James William Buffett was born on Christmas Day 1946. He was an American musician and singer-songwriter known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapism". Of the over 30 albums released by Buffett, eight are certified gold and nine are certified platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. In total, Buffett sold over 20 million certified records worldwide, placing him amongst the world's best-selling music artists.
Jimmy got his start as a street performer in New Orleans and his first taste of success with the release of A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean in 1973. The album featured the hit singles Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit and Why Don't We Get Drunk... as well as I Have Found Me a Home. It was his follow up that included his first charted hit Come Monday and the iconic A Pirate Looks at Forty. Over the next few years he formed the Coral Reefer Band and in 1977 he released Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which, in addition to the title track (my personal favorite), it also featured his breakthrough hit Margaritaville, the song he will always be remembered for.
He continued recording over the following decades and gained a somewhat cult following. His fans, were known as "Parrot Heads". At a 1985 Jimmy Buffett concert he commented about everyone wearing Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats and how they kept coming back to see his shows, just like Deadheads. Timothy B. Schmit, then a member of the Coral Reefer Band, coined the term "Parrot Head" to describe them.
This past May, I gathered with thousands of other Parrot Heads in Mission Valley for what would be his final concert. It had been rescheduled after he was hospitalized with undisclosed medical issues the previous fall. Several months later I was shocked to hear he had passed away.
Sail on Jimmy, we will truly miss you.
I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination- Jimmy Buffett