Jimmy Buffet The Living Legend

James William Buffet, AKA the original Parrot Head, Jimmy Buffet the living legend is still playing to sold out concerts at the age of 64. The remarkable journey of Jimmy Buffet began in Mobile Alabama where he grew up and came of age.

Jimmy began is music career in Nashville Tennessee as a country artist and recorded his first album “Down to Earth.” On an invitation of a friend Jimmy went to Key West Florida to panhandle his music to the locals. Jimmy began his life long affair with the culture of the beach and its laid back way of enjoying life.

In 2003 Jimmy partnered with country music legend Alan Jackson for the song “Its Five O’clock Somewhere.” The song became a number 1 hit and has became a mainstay of popular American expression. After 30 years in the music business Jimmy won his first award, 2004 Vocal Event of the Year.

Also, in 2004, Jimmy was nominated for a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Country Male Singer, as well as two Country Music Association Awards (CMAs): Music Video Of The Year for “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere,” and Musical Event Of The Year for “Hey Good Lookin’” from his License To Chill CD.

In 2005, Jimmy received his second Grammy nomination: Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for “Hey Good Lookin” from the License To Chill CD. And there were two other 2005 nominations for “Hey Good Lookin: Vocal Event Of The Year/Academy of Country Music, and Collaborative Video Of The Year/CMT Music Awards. Also in 2005, there was another CMA nomination – for Musical Event Of The Year for his duet with Martina McBride, “Trip Around The Sun” from the License To Chill CD.

Jimmy’s early years didn’t garner him much attention on the radio waves. Many people outside of the South have never heard of him. Because of his charisma, Jimmy was still selling out concerts in the South. In 1977 Jimmy recorded a song aptly named Margaritaville. The song has went on to become an American classic. Margaritaville has now became not only a song but a dining institution. The restaurant offers Margaritaville Tequila, Paradise Key Tea, LandShark Lager Beer. The restaurant has been a successful adoption of Jimmy’s 1977 hit song. Jimmy has other business ventures that include, Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant chains, and part owner of two minor league baseball teams, and Margaritaville Records.

Jimmy has written several books that demonstrates his storytelling nature. Three of his books, Tales from Margaritaville, Where is Joe Merchant, and A Pirate Looks at Fifty, have reached the No. 1 best seller list. A Pirate Looks at Fifty went straight to the No. 1 list making him one of only seven authors to have accomplished the feat. One of those authors was another Key West, Florida resident whom you may have heard of; Earnest Hemingway.

Jimmy has also been involved in film and television. Jimmy wrote the soundtrack and acted in the movie Hoot. Jimmy has appeared in Repo Man, Cobb, Congo, From the Earth to the Moon, Rancho Deluxe, and FM.

In 1985 the term “Parrot Head” began at a concert in Cincinnati, Ohio. The essiential term means that one is a Jimmy Buffet fan. Its also considered a laid back person wearing flip flops, a Hawaiian shirt while drinking a margarita.

There are now numerous Parrothead Clubs throughout the world. Their motto is, “party with a purpose.” The clubs have transformed into a charitable organization that gives to alzheimers research, cancer research, environmental causes, the March of Dimes, and Toys for Tots. There is an estimated 27,000 Parrothead members.

That guy that grew up in Mobile Alabama and couldn’t get radio time for his songs. The same guy that many people can’t put a label on his music and made him an outcast in the early years, earns an estimated $100 million a year. Not bad for a son of a son of a sailor.

Photos via http://www.margaritaville.com/index.php

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