American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, best known for his 1970’s hit Margaritaville, has died aged 76.
„Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1 surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs”, says a statement on his website.
Buffett was born in Mississippi but was raised in Alabama before moving to Nashville, Tennessee. He worked for the music and entertainment magazine Billboard, with the dream of making it as a country singer, says the BBC. He later moved to Florida, where he helped to create the tropical rock genre, which would later become more mainstream thanks to artists such as Jack Johnson.
Buffett made his musical breakthrough with his 1977 album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which included the song Margaritaville, which enjoyed 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.His other hits include Fins, Come Monday and Son of a Son of a Sailor.
Buffett was nominated for two Grammy awards and was a prolific artist – releasing more than 20 albums.
His songs were also turned into a musical, Escape to Margaritaville, which made its Broadway debut in 2018.
Buffett’s music and the „beach bum” lifestyle he promoted earned him a devoted following of millions of fans who refer to themselves as Parrotheads.
As well as a musician, Buffett was a best-selling author and entrepreneur who opened up a string of popular resorts, clubs. restaurants, merchandise shops and retirement communities based on the Margaritaville brand.
Jimmy Buffett is survived by his wife Jane and their three children.
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