The singer-songwriter who wrote, “Margaritaville” and “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” passed away at the age of 76 earlier this week. Jimmy Buffett may have left this world, but his positivity and paradise-style hits will continue to live on.
Although Buffett lived a life of music and paradise, he had been battling skin cancer for the last four years. Jimmy spent the past couple of years performing alongside the Coral Reefer Band until hospitalized in May.
Before becoming famous and one of the faces of promoting the “beach bum” lifestyle, Buffett grew up in Alabama before moving to Nashville Tennessee to pursue country music. Jimmy worked with Billboard magazine during his time in Tennessee, but later moved to Florida where he ultimately found his iconic sound that we all know and love today!
Jimmy Buffett’s music helped create the tropical rock genre, where most of his songs embodied tropical escapism through each instrument and lyric. Buffet’s unique songs brought new perspectives and fans to his music.
In 1977, Buffett’s career had a breakthrough with his album, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” which included his most well-known song “Margaritaville.” Margaritaville not only landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 22 weeks but became a state of mind and a coined term for Buffett’s next side hustle in the hospitality industry.
Throughout his music career for the next couple of decades, Jimmy Buffett wrote more staple songs that laid part of the foundation for yacht rock, was nominated for two Grammys and released over 20 albums. Jimmy Buffett was admired and loved by most in the music industry, as celebrities like Elton John mourned his death on social media.
Jimmy Buffett left the world with the paradise he created. Buffett capitalized on Margaritaville and transformed his song into restaurants, resorts and hotels across the United States. Jimmy’s business and music career meshed, as he spent his years performing his tropical songs in his Buffett-made paradise.
Jimmy’s legacy lives on through his wife and three children, as well as his impact in establishing tropical rock, and leaving his fans with a sense of relaxation and happiness through each song. The yacht rock genre would not exist or remain popular without Jimmy Buffett, as his distinct voice and sound encapsulate everything about tropical rock. Buffett’s name and music will stick with us every time we enjoy a margarita or cheeseburger.
It’s five o’clock somewhere, so tweet or tag @VALLEYmag how you’ll be celebrating the life of Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville style.
