Good musicians make good music. Great musicians make good memories. If you ask any country music lover what they think of when they think of Jimmy Buffett, they will most likely respond with “summertime.” Some people may say they think of relaxing on the beach or hanging out with friends on a summer night. Someone might even mention eating at the Margaritaville restaurants, or share a memory of staying at a Margaritaville resort. Either way, Buffett became an incredibly successful musician, and his journey is one to remember and celebrate.
Born on Christmas of 1946, Buffett was raised in the port town Mobile, Ala. He grew up around sailing, as his father was a marine engineer, and his parents kept him in school to set him up for a college career. Music did not truly capture his interest until he reached college. A fraternity brother showed him how playing his guitar received attention from girls. Buffett then tried to learn by himself and quickly fell in love with music.
After college, Buffett moved to New Orleans to do street performances. Then, he made his way to Nashville, Tenn., to further his career, where he released his first album, “Down to Earth,” in 1970. However, working his daytime job as a journalist for Billboard, Buffett still had a long way to go before reaching the fame he was destined for. Eventually, Buffett ventured to Key West, Fla., and began performing and working on new music. He gradually began to gain popularity with new albums and songs like “Come Monday” which was his first song to reach the charts. In 1977, Buffett finally got the attention he was seeking with his breakthrough album “Changes in Latitude.” On the album was the hit song, “Margaritaville,” which had staggering success. Buffett claimed that he wrote most of the song in just six minutes, and it is his most popular song of all time.
Buffett went on to become a well-known country star. He went on tours and built his brand which signified the “beach vacation” lifestyle. He built restaurants and resorts with his company Margaritaville Holdings, physically making the atmosphere he wanted his music to create. For Buffett, the music was not just music, but culture. He wanted listeners to feel as happy as he felt when singing his songs. He built a paradise that reflected the vision he had for his music. More so, Buffett’s tropical music style had spread into the country music industry like wildfire. Most of American country music today is inspired by the smooth rhythm and summertime vibes that Buffett had put in his work.
Perhaps the most impressive of Buffett’s accomplishments is the monopoly he built out of his music. Buffett had managed to take his songs and turn them into something more. He was one of the first artists to create a specific and well-known aesthetic out of his music style. His music makes us imagine vibrant beach chairs, Hawaiian button-ups or relaxing with a drink on a hot summer day. Buffett was able to market this aesthetic and build the very world his song “Margaritaville” had described. The vacation and beach lifestyle has become a significant factor in American culture. It also added a new tropical aspect to country music that inspired many future artists. In this way, Buffett created a large part of not just our musical culture, but entertainment and lifestyle.
On Sept. 1, 2023, Buffett passed away peacefully at the age of 76. After a long and successful career, his music has left a permanent impact on the world. The positivity and happiness Buffett is extremely adamant in the way fans have celebrated in his memory. Buffett played all weekend long and brought out stories of happy summertime memories for everyone. There is no doubt that his music will continue to make people smile and play during every summer day.
