Jimmy Buffett, “Margaritaville” singer, dies at 76

Jimmy Buffett, the singer-songwriter of boozy beach anthems like “Margaritaville” and “Come Monday” who inspired generations of “parrotheads” to flock to concerts that felt like all-night parties, has died. He was 76.

“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” said a statement on Buffett’s official website. “He lived his life like a song until his last breath and will be eternally missed by so many people.”

An official cause of death was not given, but Buffet had been battling long-term health problems. NBC and TMZ report, citing anonymous sources, that the singer died of cancer.

In May, Buffett was hospitalized for an unknown reason, forcing him to cancel an appearance. “Growing old is not for wimps, I promise you that,” he said in a statement at the time.

Buffet was also forced Suspend tour dates in September 2022, again for unknown reasons, resulting in another hospitalization.

Born on Christmas Day 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Buffett began his music career in the 1960s as a country singer in Nashville. In 1970, he recorded a solo album in that style called “Down to Earth” and worked as a busker in Nashville, New Orleans and other cities to survive. During a busking tour to Key West, he decided to move there – and it was there that he began to develop the beach-bumper lifestyle that would become the theme of his later hits, and began to incorporate other musical styles such as pop, rock and calypso into his work.

After signing with ABC Records, it was his seventh album – Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes – in 1977 that “Margaritaville” was included on. In the 1980s, Buffett found that touring was very profitable for him and he became known as quite a showman.

His fans called themselves “Parrotheads” and Buffett later popularized the name “Margaritaville” in retail stores and in the restaurant chain The Margaritaville Cafe. But it wasn’t until 2004, with his album “License to Chill,” that Buffett landed at the top of the pop charts for the first time in his career.

While Buffett continued to record albums through 2020, he also founded a second restaurant chain, Cheeseburger in Paradise, which is no longer in operation. With record sales, sold-out concerts, restaurant chains, and best-selling books, Buffett became one of the richest musicians in the world, with a net worth reportedly estimated at $1 billion.

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