What a sad way to wrap up the last weekend of Summer of 2023 than with the passing of Mr. Summer himself, Jimmy Buffett. I personally call Jimmy Mr. Summer because of the song that made me a lifelong fan.

Let me take you back to the Winter of 1977 when Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” was all over the radio. It went on to not only be one of the hottest songs that Spring, but especially that Summer.

Years later, while attending my first Jimmy Buffett concert, I quickly learned that we all were becoming “Parrotheads” whether we liked it or not. I will bet that fans will agree with me that no concert provided a more fun and entertaining atmosphere than a Jimmy Buffett show. What made the show so entertaining was the energy of those attending combined with an artist, great music and his band having their own onstage party while the audience partied as well. If anyone left a Jimmy Buffet concert saying they didn’t have a good time, it was their fault.

Over the Labor Day weekend when I learned about Jimmy’s passing, I just had to crank up my personal Jimmy Buffett playlist. Song number one was of course, “Margaritaville” followed by “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Fin’s,” “Livingston Saturday Night,” “A Pirate Looks At 40,” “Volcano” and “Son Of A Son Of A Sailor.” I also added a few more songs to my playlist. Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere,” Jimmy & the Zac Brown Band’s “Knee Deep” and Jimmy and a few of his Country friends on “Hey Good Lookin.”

To the state of Mississippi, thank you for giving us the one and only Jimmy Buffett. Buffett recorded over 30 albums, was a successful author and with his “Margaritaville” retail stores, left his family a fortune worth over $1 billion.

Reports say that Jimmy passed away after battling an aggressive type of skin cancer. He was 76.

I hope you enjoy my Jimmy Buffett playlist below. Even though we are a few hours from the coast, listen for the sound of the surf while enjoying the tunes.

• Jimmy Buffett "Margaritaville"

  From the Winter of 1977 and from the album “Changes In Latiutudes Changes In Attitudes,” “Margaritaville” became a number one song on the Billboard magazine Easy Listening chart. On the Billboard Pop chart, “Margaritaville” made it into the top 10. Eight years later in 1975, Jimmy would open his first Margaritaville retail store. It’s no surprise that the franchise first opened in Key West, Florida.

• Jimmy Buffett "Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes"

  If you are keeping track, “Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes” was Jimmy Buffett’s seventh album and was released in January of 1977. This album produced “Margaritaville,” Jimmy’s most successful song. “Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes” went on to be Jimmy’s biggest selling album.

• Jimmy Buffett "Cheeseburger In Paradise"

  Released in 1978, “Cheeseburger In Paradise” was one of the cuts from Jimmy’s “Son of a Son of a Sailor” album. Since it’s release, “Cheeseburger” was a fan favorite. During a concert Jimmy said the inspiration behind the song came from a boating mishap and that once he returned to shore, he wrote the song at Stanley’s Welcome Bar on Tortola while enjoying a cheeseburger. I understand Stanley’s Welcome Bar is now called Tony’s Welcome Bar.

• Jimmy Buffett "Come Monday"

  The tune “Come Monday” held a special place as it became Jimmy Buffett’s first Top 40 single. So, the next time you hear Kenny Chesney sing “Come Monday,” you now know the original was written and recorded by Jimmy Buffett.

• Jimmy Buffett "Fins"

  If you own Jimmy Buffett’s album “Volcano,” you probably know the song “Fins.” Jimmy said he wrote “Fins” for all of the guys who were trying to pick up girls. If you’re ever in Miami, Florida and attend an NFL Miami Dolphins home game, you likely will hear “Fins” play. Jimmy did write new lyrics to “Fins” just for the Dolphins.

• Jimmy Buffett "Livingston Saturday Night"

  If you’ve ever wondered where the idea for “Livingston Saturday Night” came from, the answer would be the tiny town of Livingston, Montana. For those that like to party, this song was written as an anthem for you. Also, check out the 1978 movie “FM.” You will see Jimmy Buffett do a live version of the song in the film.

• Jimmy Buffett "A Pirate Looks at Forty"

  If you ever vacation in Key West, Florida, be sure to visit The Chart Room Bar at 10 West Duval Street. Jimmy actually wrote the song “A Pirate Looks At 40” in The Chart Room Bar. When Jimmy moved to Key West, The Chart Room Bar is where you could often see and hear Jimmy play. Apparently a ton of other artists were impacted by “A Pirate Looks At Forty,” because Dave Matthews did a version along with Jack Johnson, Bob Dylan and others.

• Jimmy Buffett "Volcano"

  Trivia buffs might know, but Jimmy Buffett actually recorded the album “Volcano” in the British West Indies on the Leeward Island of Montserrat. If you visit the island, check out the active Soufrière Hills volcano. Another interesting fact about the song and album “Volcano,” is that it was recorded around the time of Buffet’s daughter Savannah’s birth.

• Jimmy Buffett "Son of a Son of a Sailor"

  “Son of a Son of a Sailor” was a single from the year 1978 and the title track of the album by the same name. Check out these lyrics and you’ll see why “Son of a Sailor” has been a fan favorite for years. “I’m just a son of a son, son of a son, son of a son of a sailor. The sea’s in my veins, my tradition remains. I’m just glad I don’t live in a trailer.”

• Jimmy Buffett & Alan Jackson "It's 5 O'clock Somewhere"

  Let’s go back to 2003, 20 years ago and the song that earned Jimmy Buffett his first industry award. “It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere” was a monster hit for Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett. Not only did the tune go all the way to number one but it also won Jimmy & Alan the award for the CMA Vocal Event of the Year. It’s hard to believe, but this CMA award was the only industry award Jimmy ever won during his career.

• Zac Brown Band & Jimmy Buffett "Knee Deep"

  Popular songwriters Zac Brown, Jeffrey Steele, Coy Bowles and Wyatt Durrette are to thank for “Knee Deep.” Wyatt Durrette, a huge Jimmy Buffett fan, actually had the idea for the song. “Knee Deep” is from the Zac Brown Band’s 2011 album “You Get What You Give.”

• Jimmy Buffett with a few Country Friends "Hey Good Lookin'"

  From the Jimmy Buffett album “License To Chill,” you will find the song “Hey Good Lookin.'” Talk about a rich history for a Country song. Hank Williams Sr. actually wrote it, recorded it and the song went to number one in the year 1951. In 2004, Jimmy Buffett re-recorded “Hey Good Lookin'” with a few of his many Country friends, George Strait, Toby Keith, Kenny Chesney, Clint Black and Alan Jackson. The song reached number 8 on the Billboard Country chart.

• Jimmy Buffett "It's My Job"

  If you appreciate the working man and woman, you may know the lyric, “It’s my job to be better than the best, and that makes the day for me.” That line is from Jimmy Buffett’s “It’s My Job.” “It’s My Job” was a 1981 single from Jimmy’s “Coconut Telegraph” album which by the way, was recorded in the historic Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama.

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