Music Monday: Jimmy Buffett passed away peacefully at age 76
Posted By RichC on September 4, 2023
Depressing for those of us who grew up in the Jimmy Buffett mindset and have enjoyed his music, concerts, ambitious lifestyle and attitude for our college and adult lives, 
but his passing on September 1, 2023 hit home. Unfortunately it is starting to feel like the norm (but 76 is way, WAY, too young)?
I know that most who are older (and wiser) than me have already come to the realization that arriving at the senior citizen milestone in life comes with the health issues and death of those we’ve grown up with in our lives. I’ve accepted the end when it came to those in my parents generation, since it seemed natural …but when it starts to creep closer … it is more personal and WAY too close.
For me (and Taylor’s girlfriend Megan – photo left – and her recently passed father Dave), there’s probably no other celebrity/entertainer that has had the impact on me as have Jimmy Buffett (my posts). I first enjoyed his music in high school when Buffett was in the pre-salt years and playing country music … he was still in the bohemian leftover from the hippy days. I embraced the music even more when it mirrored my sailing dream and escapism plans. I was planning to either bum around Florida or head off to teach in the South Pacific when I finished college — at least that was the before the Brenda plan.
Most of us grow up a bit, as did I … but deep down I still escaped to the islands (mentally) and planned on living on a boat, cruising the Caribbean and live for the day — “carpe diem,” as Brenda has been known to say! Thankfully she semi-embraced my sailing and put up with my fantasy; she even let me follow my aviation dream (again … another Jimmy Buffett passion). My college buddy Jeff wasn’t much help in teaching me to “grow up” as he was also immersed in Jimmy Buffett music listening. He even collaborated with Brenda to buy Jimmy Buffett tickets when we lived in Hudson and came up for a weekend to make it special.
Over the years I’ve appreciated Jimmy Buffett’s work ethic and business prowess more and more. He may not be the most gifted singer (his voice is questionable), but noting his empire and achievements, he has definitely exceeded what one may have expected from someone promoting a “celebration of loafing” (as the AP article commented).
NEW YORK (AP) — Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock with the escapist Caribbean-flavored song “Margaritaville” and turned that celebration of loafing into an empire of restaurants, resorts and frozen concoctions, has died. He was 76.
“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” a statement posted to Buffett’s official website and social media pages said late Friday. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”
The statement did not say where Buffett died or give a cause of death. Illness had forced him to reschedule concerts in May and Buffett acknowledged in social media posts that he had been hospitalized, but provided no specifics.
Since this is a Music Monday post, here’s a lesser know song from a segment Jimmy Buffett recorded in a home video when locked down during Covid – “Death Of An Unpopular Poet”. I’ve always loved his ballads more than his party songs. Rest in Peace, I really hope you’re playing music in heaven Jimmy Buffett.
Death of an Unpopular Poet
This song is by Jimmy Buffett and appears on the album A White Sport Coat And A Pink Crustacean (1973).
I once knew a poet
Who lived before his time
He and his dog Spooner
Would listen while he’d rhyme
Words to make ya happy
Words to make you cry
Then one day the poet suddenly did dieBut he left behind a closet
Filled with verse and rhyme
And through some strange transaction
One was printed in the Times
And everybody’s searchin’
For the king of underground
Well, they found him down in Florida
With a tombstone for a crownEverybody knows a line
From his book that cost four ninety-nine
I wonder if he knows he’s doin’ quite this fine‘Cause his books are all best sellers
And his poems were turned to song
Had his brother on a talk show
Though they never got along
And now he’s called immortal
Yes, he’s even taught in school
They say he used his talents
A most proficient toolBut he left all of his royalties
To Spooner his ol’ hound
Growin’ old on steak and bacon
In a doghouse ten feet ’round
And everybody wonders
Did he really lose his mind
No, he was just a poet who lived before his time
He was just a poet who lived before his time
EDIT add: One more video to add ..
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