‘Margaritaville’ Musician Jimmy Buffett Passes Away at 76

2023-09-02

"Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett's Greatest Hits"

Jimmy Buffett death: “Songs You Know by Heart: Jimmy Buffett’s Greatest Hits” – Story by Charles Ken, album cover via MCA

Jimmy Buffett death: The singer-songwriter, best known for his 1977 smash hit “Margaritaville,” has passed away at 76

Legendary singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, known for the mega-hit “Margaritaville,” has passed away. He was 76.

“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” a statement reads that was posted to Buffett’s official social media pages late Friday (Sept. 1) “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”

So far, his camp hasn’t revealed a cause of death. Buffett was scheduled to play some concerts in May, but those shows were rescheduled due to Buffett’s health. Posts on his official social media pages indicated that he was in the hospital but didn’t give further details.

“Margaritaville” is an icon for Caribbean-inspired popular music. The song, which arrived on Feb. 14, 1977, was part of Buffett’s “Changes in Latitudes” album. Buffett wrote the track about a drink he liked at Lung’s Cocina del Sur restaurant (now High 5) in Austin, Texas.

“Margaritaville” spent an impressive 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and reached No. 8. The song also made it into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016 for its “cultural and historic significance.” Moreover, if you head to Key West or any of those southern Florida spots, chances are you’ll hear the track blaring, while tourists sip their Margaritas.

In addition to his music, Buffett also wrote several books. Three of his books were New York Times Best Sellers. Those included 1989’s “Tales from Margaritaville,” 1992’s “Where is Joe Merchant?” and 1998’s “A Pirate Looks at Fifty.” He also co-wrote two children’s books: 1988’s “The Jolly Mon” and 1991’s “Trouble Dolls.” Buffett wrote both of those books with his daughter Savannah Jane Buffett.

Musically, while Buffett was a rocker, songs such as “Margaritaville” displayed his ability to mix a bevy of genres, including pop, folk, Caribbean and country. He had a special talent for making incredibly catchy hooks and melodies, which translated into feel-good songs. In essence, Buffett wrote the soundtrack for many summer nights spent sipping drinks and watching the sunset.

Charles Ken
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