Jimmy Buffett died yesterday. He was 76.
I met him once when Mrs. Hoge was working as one of the recording engineers on some sessions for the Volcano album at Quadrafonic Studios. Parrotheads will be playing that record and many others for years to come.
The man was a talented writer and entrepreneur who spread joy among his fans. I always thought it was funny he couldn’t get radio airplay (beyond two old songs) but his concerts would sell out in minutes.
Not many singers can say they are billionaires from selling a dream.
Some friends and I drove o north Chicago for one of his concerts at Ravinia once (he almost exclusively played open-air venues.) After waiting 20 minutes so the band could depart first . . . here comes the tour bus, full speed, with Jimmy hanging out the door, waving us all good night & safe travels while the bus did donuts in the parking lot. It makes me smile just thinking about it.
I took the whole family to see him in Columbus, OH more than 20 years ago. Going into the venue I was surprised at how many folks were already three-sheet-to -the-wind. Inside, my teens asked what that strange smell was that wafted over the outside bowl arena. Then my 9 year old son asked by so many men were wearing coconut bras.
He played a great show and it was family friendly. Although the teens figured out why the wife and I would fast forward one of his songs while on a trip. It was “Why don’t we get drunk and screw.” Life’s tough when you raise smart kids.
PIP Mr. Buffett
In the mid-90’s I was on a boat that competed in the Harvest Moon Regatta, Galveston to Port Aransas. When we finished mid-noon on the 2nd day, and started hitting the restaurants and bars, Jimmy Buffet was in one of the bars with his acoustic guitar playing Volcano. The bartender said he simply showed up out of the blue and started playing. Six hours later everyone was dancing in the streets, on the bars, etc. Lots of commerce for Port Aransas that night.