By COMFORT OGBONNA
Renowned singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett passed away on Friday at the age of 76 after facing undisclosed health challenges since 2022.
The iconic “Margaritaville” artist peacefully left this world, surrounded by loved ones, music, and his faithful dogs, as conveyed in a statement on his website and social media.
“He lived his life like a song until his last breath, and his absence will be deeply felt by countless admirers,” the statement expressed. Details regarding the cause and location of his passing were not disclosed.
Jimmy Buffett is survived by his wife, Jane Slagsvol, and their three children: Savannah, Sarah, and Cameron.
His health struggles began in the previous year when he was hospitalized, leading to the cancellation of several shows, as reported by USA Today. In May and June 2023, additional concerts were called off when he revealed his return to the hospital for urgent medical attention.
Aside from his 1977 hit “Margaritaville,” Buffett contributed several timeless songs to pop culture in the 1970s and 1980s, including “Come Monday,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes,” “A Pirate Looks at Forty,” and “Pencil Thin Mustache.”
Born on Christmas Day in 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Buffett grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He first picked up the guitar during his freshman year at Auburn University before completing his college education at Pearl River Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in history in 1969.
Buffett then relocated to Nashville and released his debut country album in 1970, titled “Down to Earth.” However, a 1971 trip to Key West with fellow country music artist Jerry Jeff Walker redirected Buffett’s musical focus from outlaw country to Calypso folk-pop.
In addition to his musical endeavors, Buffett ventured into business, opening his inaugural Margaritaville store in Key West in 1985. Just two years later, he launched a Margaritaville Café nearby.
Buffett’s business empire expanded to encompass clothing, resorts, restaurants, beer, casinos, a radio station, and retirement communities. In 2017, Forbes estimated that the Margaritaville global lifestyle brand had over $4.8 billion in development projects and generated $1.5 billion in annual sales. As of June 2023, Buffett’s net worth was estimated at $1 billion.
The accomplished musician released 30 albums, founded Margaritaville Records in the early 1990s, authored several fiction books, and made contributions to the film and television industry through music and cameo appearances.
