Local Legend, Jimmy Buffett, Passes Away At 76
Ken Cooper • September 2, 2023
Family, Friends, and Parrot Heads mourn the loss of Jimmy Buffett
Mobile’s own Jimmy Buffett, the iconic singer-songwriter known for his tropical escapism anthems, passed away on September 1st, at the age of 76. The news was confirmed through a statement on his official website and social media accounts, although further details surrounding his death were not disclosed. Buffett was hospitalized earlier this year for an unspecified illness.
Born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on Christmas Day 1946, Buffett grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He found his musical calling in Key West, Florida, in 1972. Over the years, he developed a unique blend of musical styles, including calypso, rock, folk, country, and pop, which came to be known as tropical rock. “Come Monday” was Buffett’s first hit from the album “Living and Dying in 3/4 Time”. He also ventured into book writing, with bestsellers like "Tales From Margaritaville" (1989) and "A Pirate Looks at Fifty" (1998).
In a show of resilience and unity, Jimmy Buffett performed a free concert on the beaches of Gulf Shores, Alabama, on July 11, 2010, following the BP oil spill. The event, telecast live on the CMT cable channel, attracted tens of thousands of fans, many donned in Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats. Buffett, who grew up on the Alabama coast, aimed to demonstrate that not all Gulf Coast tourists were "covered in oil," as he sang in his set list that included hits like "Son of a Son of a Sailor," "Come Monday," and "Margaritaville." The concert not only lifted spirits but also boosted local tourism, filling parking lots outside hotels, condominiums, restaurants, and souvenir stores. After the beach concert, Buffett returned many times to the Alabama Gulf Coast to perform concerts at the Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Jimmy Buffett and his family have many connections to the Alabama gulf coast. His sister Lucy has the famous LuLu’s which she started on Week’s Bay. Margaritaville was a bar on the corner of Fort Morgan Road and Hwy 59 back in the late '70s. Jimmy Buffett was often a visitor to local spots like the original Hangout and the Flora-Bama.
Buffett leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond his music. He became a cultural icon, especially for his fan base known as Parrot Heads. His songs often told stories of beach bums, smugglers, and pirates, capturing the essence of a laid-back, tropical lifestyle.
The passing of Buffett leaves a void not only for his family and friends, but also in the hearts of his dedicated fan base. While his absence will be deeply felt, his legacy of music, and cultural impact will undoubtedly continue to resonate for generations to come.
“If there’s a heaven for me, I’m sure it has a beach attached.”
– Jimmy Buffett
Buffett performed several surprise concerts on the Alabama Gulf Coast, as a matter of fact, the first Margaritaville was on the corner of Hwy 59 and Hwy 180, where the Walgreens is now.
One of Buffet’s surprise concerts was on October 2, 2001, at LuLu’s when it was located under the Fish River bridge on Weeks Bay. This show was for his mother’s 80th birthday. Ten years later, he performed another surprise concert at LuLu’s Homeport Marina after it had moved to its current location in Gulf Shores.
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