The American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, best known for his “Margaritaville” escapist tribute to the tropical life, has died at the age of 76.
“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many,” a statement on his website said on Saturday.
Margaritaville, released in 1977, peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 list and spent 22 weeks on the chart, making it his most popular single.
Known as the “Mayor of Margaritaville”, he released nearly 30 studio albums of country, folk and tropical tunes, and also launched a line of resorts, restaurants and retail stores that capitalised on his laid-back, escapist image.
Born on Christmas Day in 1946 in Mississippi and raised in Alabama, Buffett began playing guitar in college and later started performing on the streets and in the clubs of New Orleans.
He released his first record, Down to Earth, in 1970, and a year later travelled to Key West, Florida, a place that became synonymous with his paradise-themed music and lifestyle brands.
Buffett also wrote bestselling books, appeared in movies and on television, and even had a brief Broadway run with his musical Escape to Margaritaville.
But his signature song is what his legions of fans and beach holidaymakers remember most.
Patron saint of ‘Parrotheads’
“There are people out there looking for a good time for a few days a year,” Buffett told Rolling Stone magazine in 1996, referring to his fans, known as “Parrotheads”.
“We come to town and we’re the carnival or the Mardi Gras. People blow off steam and then go back and become basically law-abiding citizens,” he said.
“But to see them on those two days, you’d go, ‘My God, this is the most drunk and boisterous maniac crowd you ever saw!’”
Buffett was admitted to hospital in May of this year for treatment of an unspecified illness after returning from a trip to the Bahamas, and had to cancel some shows.
“I had to stop in Boston for a checkup but wound up back in the hospital to address some issues that needed immediate attention,” he said in a statement at the time. “Growing old is not for sissies, I promise you.”
In September last year, Buffett had to cancel five shows that had been planned in Las Vegas, San Diego, Salt Lake City and Nampa, Idaho. But he was back on the road from February through May this year.
Buffett was preparing to release a new record this year, according to his website.
He is survived by his wife Jane Slagsvol, their two daughters, Sarah and Savannah, and son, Cameron.
Earlier this year, Margaritaville, from the 1977 album, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, was among 25 recordings added to the National Recording Registry at the US Library of Congress.
The registry designates recordings that are “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant” and “worthy of preservation for all time”.
When Margaritaville was released, the song stayed on the sales charts for months, “scoring with pop and country audiences alike, as well as teenagers and adults”, the Library of Congress said.
The song celebrates a life of sunny leisure and frozen drinks, from the opening lines, “Nibblin’ on sponge cake, watchin’ the sun bake,” to its earworm refrain, “Wastin’ away in Margaritaville, searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt.”
“Today, its lyrics are as memorised as any song in history,” the Library of Congress said, adding that the song is “as well known and omnipresent as ever — a regular component of bars, beach parties, karaoke and any place cool vibes are required”.
