Jimmy Buffett, widely known for his 1970s hit Margaritaville, has died at the age of 76.
“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1 surrounded by his family, friends, music, and dogs,” according to a statement posted on his website.
“He lived his life like a song until his last breath and will be sorely missed by so many.”
The cause of Buffett’s death was not disclosed, but he had recently been hospitalized.
Buffett was born in Mississippi but raised in neighboring Alabama before relocating to Nashville, Tennessee. With the ambition of becoming a country singer, he worked for the music and entertainment magazine Billboard.
eventually, he relocated to Florida, where he helped to pioneer the tropical rock genre, which was eventually popularized by performers such as Jack Johnson.
Buffett made his musical debut in 1977 with the album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which featured the song Margaritaville, which spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Fins, Come Monday, and Son of a Son of a Sailor are among his other hits.
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Buffett had two Grammy nominations and was a prolific artist, recording more than 20 albums. He disclosed earlier this year that he had recorded a new work.
Escape to Margaritaville, a musical based on his songs, made its Broadway debut in 2018.
Buffett’s songs and the “beach bum” lifestyle he championed won him a passionate fan base of millions of admirers known as Parrotheads.
“RIP to the troubadour of my youth,” one Parrothead posted on X, formerly Twitter.
“I have so many fantastic memories from Jimmy’s shows. “This is a difficult one,” commented another.
Some of his contemporaries have also paid tribute, including the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, who tweeted a photo of one of Buffett’s album covers with the phrase “love and mercy, Jimmy Buffett.”
“Rest in peace, Jimmy Buffett.” “I’m glad we had time to vibe,” rapper LL Cool J wrote.
“You were and will always be a truly inspiring human.”
Buffett still played regularly with his Coral Reefer Band until recently, but had to cancel gigs after being hospitalized in May.
He told followers that he would make it up to them once he was “in shape” in a Facebook post.
“I think playing is as therapeutic for me as it is for the fans to listen and sing along,” he says.
Buffett was a best-selling author and entrepreneur who established a chain of successful resorts, clubs, restaurants, goods shops, and retirement homes under the Margaritaville brand.
According to numbers disclosed this month, his net worth is projected to be $1 billion (£794 million).
Buffett leaves behind his wife Jane and their three children.
