Jimmy Buffett died two months ago at 76 years old. For whatever reason his passing hasn’t hit me yet. Maybe because I created a wall between us after I swore off going to see his shows anymore. His later music and performances were hollow for me. I did not like what he was serving up.

On Thanksgiving morning at 5am, I received a note from the closest of friends thanking me for introducing him to Jimmy Buffet as he sent along Spin Magazine’s list of best Buffett albums (click here). The wheels in my head started turning and I decided to pen my own goodbye. My own tribute to this unique man, who created his own genre and like the greats, reinvented himself many years after his “hits” in the 1970s with the “Fruitcakes” and “Barometer Soup” releases in 1994 and 1995 respectively.

It is strange that his death did not impact the decades-long connection I had with his music. In a weird, ugly way, he was already dead to me. Thank god that I was able to bring my oldest daughter to a Jones Beach show in 2015 (click here for that story) before Jimmy started mailing it in.

I grieved heavy when John Prine suddenly died during COVID (click here for that tribute story). Like Prine, Buffett’s stories were simple, but uniquely rich with adventure and characters that I could happily call friends. Jimmy’s countless tales of modern day pirates getting drunk, chasing ladies and sailing free provided me inspiration for having a different kind of fun . I am sure I am not the first or last Yankee to chase the Buffett dream and get lost in Key West lore.

In 2014 my friend and neighbor (Adventure Brad, who now lives in Ventura) share with me a great personal story about his interaction with Buffett (click here for that story). See above… When Jimmy died, Brad (a real professional writer) penned a wonderful note that hit home with me! (SEE ABOVE)… thanks Brad, miss u.

I was so deep into Buffett that the day after my college graduation me and my Buffett buddy (Steve – aka Mango Man) headed south to explore the places Jimmy sowed his oats “before the beach”. We drove through the night straight for the “Florabama” (the legendary bar on the border of Florida and Alabama that Jimmy and his friends (like Jerry Jeff Walker) honed their craft and played for whoever would listen. Entering the joint I knew this was the place when I saw the cigarette machine chock full of guitar strings, Slim Jims, tampons, rolling papers and Darvons. I walked on the stage and sat in front of the mic feeling like I was on holy ground.

At the time one of the common nicknames (the other was Tuna) I went by was “Shrimper Dan” (the character from Buffett’s “Cuban Crimes of Passion”). The Florabama was just the first stop on the robust Buffett tour I had planned out… fishing in Biloxi, eating Crawfish in Gulfport, getting drunk on Bourbon Street. These bohemian gulf cowboy places wreaked of the authenticity I yearned to build my new post-college adult self identity on… Buffett music and spirit took me places no one I ever knew went. Although just in my own mind, I was modern day musical pirate.

I devoured anything Buffett related… Carl Hiasson novels, VHS copy of Rancho Deluxe, lyrics and of course the ultimate Buffett Scrapbook that came out in 1993. It told the stories behind the stories and I read every word. In the early 90’s box sets which rare tracks were staring to be released… The “Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads” was a treasure trove for fans. It included an amazing liner notes book which provided a killer compliment to the Scrapbook… remember this was all before the days of Wikipedia and websites. Information on the bands you loved was like gold.

Learning about Lord Buckley and his blueprint for Jimmy’s “God’s Own Drunk” was a seminal moment. That song set the tone for many an evening of listening to music in what soon became dubbed as “Boozin’ Tunes”.

If you don’t know this classic, please listen above. His live version from his 1978 live album is the one to enjoy.

In addition to the classics like “Pirate Looks at Forty” and “Boat Drinks”, some of my favorite lessor known Jimmy Buffett songs are:

• Women Going Crazy on Caroline Street
• Tampico Trauma
• Floridays
• Presents to Send You
• Weather is Here, I Wish You Were Beautiful
• Six String Music
• Fruitcakes

And of course “My Head Hurts My Feet Stink” which became an anthem in my house with my three girls.

The man struck a nerve with me and changed the way I think. I found this picture of me staring out at the ocean as a 12 year old thinking about adventure… it says it all.