The tropical rockstar, Jimmy Buffett, passed away at the age of 76 on Friday night. The heartbreaking announcement came from his social media accounts and personal website.
“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” the statement said. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”
The social media post did not release the cause of Buffett’s death. In 2022, Buffett canceled and postponed shows “due to health issues and [a] brief hospitalization.” In May 2023, he was hospitalized and again had to reschedule shows.
Buffett wasn’t always the artist we know today. The singer/songwriter started his music career as a folk-country singer in 1970. His debut album, “Down to Earth”, had a more serious tone than Buffet’s later works.
Later, in 1971, Buffett would take a trip to Key West, Florida, that would create the Jimmy Buffett the world knows and loves today. The island city and its residents inspired Buffett to embrace his gift of storytelling and merge it with wanderlust. He released hits like, “Come Monday”, “Margaritaville”, and “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere”, that shook the world.
Buffett was last in Pittsburgh in July 2022. Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band brought the “Life on the Flip Side Redux Tour” to the Pavilion at Star Lake.
After 27 studio albums and two Grammy nominations, Jimmy Buffett will be remembered for his island music and light-heartedness.
