Amy Vester ~ 9/18/98A friend of mine who happens to be the Senior Vice President of Poly Gram records, was able to get my brother and me to an end of the tour private party. Jimmy and all of his band members, and other heads of promotional companies were there. I got Jimmy a martini, and he autographed my T-shirt.
Kerri ~ 9/13/98I heard that Jimmy was going to be at Riva's, a restaurant in downtown, in June, 1997. So, me and a few parrothead friends went made reservations. As we walked to our table, we saw him. Later, he got up to go to the washroom, me and my best friend swallowed our pride, jumped out of our chairs and ran up to him. His bodyguards tried to keep us away, but Jimmy said we could take a picture with him. The picture turned out totally awesome . . . I love Buffett!!
Terri ~ 9/6/98I had the great honor of meeting Jimmy last year at the Gala Premiere of "Don't Stop the Carnival" in Coconut Grove theater in Miami on April 17th. Through a contact who shall go unnamed, I was able to get an invitation to this "invitation only" affair. Words cannot possibly describe this evening which started with a carnival themed cocktail party - anything your little heart could desire and then some. Then we went into the theater for the play - could you possibly believe who sat directly in front of me -- Jimmy, himself, with his good friend Ed Bradley. I don't know what was more interesting, watching the play or watching Jimmy watch the play. After that it was into a dinner which was also like a private reception. I got to say a few words with Jimmy and he posed for a picture with me. Finally around one in the morning Jimmy took off his jacket (yes he did have on pants and a jacket ! He said Jane wouldn't let him go to the Gala dressed like he was going to camp!) He then took guitar in hand and jammed with Iko Iko for about two hours to about 100 of us. I could never explain how great that was. But the best part was that he was a really nice, warm guy, just having a ball at a party. I guess I learned what it is like to "Party like Bubba does."! Love you, Jimmy!!
Dr. Joe Resnick (a.k.a. "Uncle Joe") ~ 8/15/98I finally got to meet Jimmy about 10 years ago when I was finishing my Master's Degree. I wanted to use one of his lyrics in my Thesis and needed him to sign off on a Copyright permission form. So . . . I wrote him a letter and he gladly signed the form and sent it back. I've been a Buffett fan since the 70's. In the late 70's I worked for a big company that was a contractor on the Voyage1&2 Space probes and I've don a bunch of stuff with NASA (see my web sites..just go to Infoseek and search my name). Well..I thought it only fitting that in addition to Kurt Waldheim's "Greetings from the People of Planet Earth" gold record that our "brother aliens" . . . or whomever or whatever finds that spacecraft might get tired of hearing Waldheim' stoic greeting and Bach's Vandenberg Concerto . . .so . . . I slipped a copy of "Margaritaville" in behind the jacket/seal on the Voyager. I kept quiet about it for a long time, as I feared retribution. Voyager left our Solar System a few years ago and is now somewhere in deep space. I wrote Jimmy a letter and told him what I did . . . and we've been "cosmic buddies" ever since. Yes . . . I do have his email address and I do get messages from him . . . and we shoot 'em back & forth. In February, he sent me email from St. Kitts and told me that he'd catch up to me in Antigua . . . pretty cool ! We are all blessed to be alive and to have Jimmy as our contemporary. He is a very gentle man, "an old softie", and a good buddy. My wish for all of you is that you get to meet him someday and shake his hand (gently). If you do get the chance to meet him...
tell him "Uncle Joe Sent Me !" See you in Key West!
L. Lovell ~ Indianapolis, Indiana ~ 8/6/98
My brother is the trumpet player in the Jimmy Buffett band. The first time I met Jimmy was back stage. I was with our younger brother and
Jimmy walked up behind us. We introduced our selves and talked for alittle bit. Very nice guy and according to my brother who has played for him going on 7 years - he is great to the
band. Every year we get to see Jimmy and every year he signs autographs for us - whether it is pictures, books or CD's. It is super having a brother in the band.
Steve Anderton ~ Marblhead, MA ~ 7/21/98
During the second week of March 1998 I was skippering a sailing charter
around the British Virgin Islands and on Monday, March 16, 1998 we decided to go to Anagada, a little reef island north of Virgin Gorda to do some snorkling. After taking the dingy ashore to the dock at the Anagada Reef Hotel (really a beach bar with a few rooms) we stopped at the bar for a cold one. We expressed an interest in hanging out and listening to Buffett tunes. The bar manager said "Why just listen, would you like to meet Jimmy?
He's sitting over at that table on the beach". (10 feet away)
Well, folks, my life is now complete! Jimmy had been fishing with some locals and was hanging out before returning to Key West. I had the profound pleasure of being introduced to him, shook his hand, had a great conversation. Even captured the moment on film. What a great person. He really enjoys and appreciates his fans and allowed Sal and me to spend time with him while he was "living the life".
He mentioned that his new book "A Pirate Looks At 50" would be out in May and he will continue touring for a "couple of more years".
BTW - When I returned home to snow and sleet in Boston on Sat am I realized that JB concert tix were going on sale so I started dialing NEXT for tix to the Great Woods shows - 17 minutes later I had 4 pavillion seats for the Wednesday show. It was meant to be.
Jon Hall ~ Asheville, NC ~ 7/8/98
First I would like to thank you for doing the web page. I'm relatively new to the web and I always enjoy checking in and seeing what's new. I was lucky enough to get 7th row tickets(one week before the show) to Atlanta(tuesday) this year because of info from the net about Ticketmaster releasing tickets late. Had
a great time. Been going to Buffett shows for 18 years and have been anywhere from 3rd row to lawn to stadium seats. Some have been better than others, but to me there's nothing like it. Like many older Parrotheads I tend to enjoy him playing older tunes, but anyway . . . Wednesday, after Tuesday's (6/30) show I had time to kill before meeting up with some folks that I was selling some of my Thursday tickets to. So I ended up at Lenox Square Mall. While walking around I spotted a familiar figure across the way, with a young boy, and a female person. At first I thought there's no way, but soon there was no mistaking it, it was Jimmy for sure. I watched for a while and no one seemed to notice. Of course I had nothing for him to sign and I thought maybe I should just respect his privacy. Went on down the way, turned the corner to head back and there he was in front of me with Cameron, just being a dad. The girl had gone in a store or something and I'm still not sure if it was Savannah or Jane or someone else. As we approached each other I blurted out "Jimmy" -and he said how're ya doing. Some how we shook hands. I told him I hated to bother him but that I really enjoyed the show last night. He said "thanks, thanks alot." I joked with him about blowing his cover and he made a gesture like where are all my fans? and said "don't worry, it's allright". I let him know how much his music had meant to me. As we walked away I said "You're a great guy". Now I just read the Bobbie Battista interview you posted and that was her closing comment too. I have never been the hero worshipping type and was really surprised that I even spoke to him, and probably seemed silly, but he couldn't have been more gracious, kind, or funny.
Brian Smyth
We saw him perform on Wed., Aug 13, 1997 in Camden, NJ. Afterwards he went to The Margaritaville Cafe in Philly. He and a group of twenty or so were sitting around and laughing it up we sat next to them with out parrot hats on and he asked if we liked the show and of course we said "Yes!" The only bad part of the show was the hour of lightning and driving rain. True Parrot Heads would never even think of missing a song.
So thats my Jimmy experience!
Ed Tanner
Jimmy was in Tampa Fl. doing a free concert at the Franklin street mall...(a rally for the Democrats(Pres Clinton)
and to get warmed up..Jimmy was at the Harbour Island Health club shooting some hoops . . . I got the call . . . and immediatly left work and headed over there. And there was Jimmy, by himself. I shot 2 games of 21 with the Ultimate Parrot Head himself . . .then he was off to do the show..A truely great time. About a week later, in the mail, I received a Nautical calendar from Jimmy, with his signature, and the saying . . .
"Calm seas and Blue sky's"
Bill Seiler
When I was sixteen, my dad took me on a trip to go ocean fishing off Florida. It was 1972 and the first time my father ever asked me to go on such a trip. So, I guess I saw it as some sort of
'rite of passage.' We flew down from Ohio and arrived in sunny Key West about two weeks before the official kick-off of tourist season. I was immediately taken with the bohemian lifestyle and characters that inhabited our southernmost point. Dad was more interested in securing a fishing boat and hittin' up the shrimpers for the best spots and bait. I learned alot about fishing on that trip. I also learned that fair-skinned northerners shouldn't fall asleep on deck! This I did on our first day out and as a result we were drydocked for the next three days. Chowin' on conch fritters and listening to the local music became our favorite pastime that week. It was during such a circumstance that I met Jimmy Buffett for the first time. We were sittin' outside a bar near Duval Street listening to a kinda long-haired blonde, guitar-playin' guy singing country-type songs. We both agreed it was his original tunes we liked the most. Specially when he would shout out "...Hit it Coral Reefers!" and then hit the play button on a portable cassette player. It was his humor and straight way of looking at life that "hooked me in the heart" and had us coming back every night until we had to leave. I wanted to soak up all I could while I was there since I never expected to hear that guy again. It wasn't until four years later while in Lauderdale on Spring Break that I learned his name was Jimmy Buffett. On the way back to Miami to fly back home, we made the usual touristy side-trips to all the brochure hot-spots. The most memorable was Parrot Jungle. With two parrots perched on both arms and one on my head (Kodak Moment) and lyrics like "who's gonna steal the peanut butter? I'll get a can of sardines" and "Grapefruit, Bathin' suit, chew a little Juicy Fruit" still ringing in my
ears, it's no wonder I related so strongly to the name 'Parrothead' when it was coined a decade later.
Karl Snyder
In 1986 I was stationed in Key West with
US Navy Hydrofoils. Good Morning America was having Jimmy shoot some intro shots for a series on vacation destinations and one of the shots had Jimmy on a flats boat alongside one of the hydrofoils. The ships crew noticed him and invited him on board for a tour. After a brief tour (small ship) we all settled into the ships tiny galley for an intimate time of conversation with the man. He was very cordial and jovial and autographed pictures of the ship for us. Understandibly that picture is one of my most prized possesions.
Lane Clapsaddle
WHILE AT WORK AT THE HOUSTON AIRPORT, JIMMY AND THE CORAL REEFER BAND FLEW IN ON THEIR CORP. JET. IN TOWN FOR A CONCERT THAT NIGHT. I MET JIMMY AND THE BAND AND HAD MY PICTURE TAKEN WITH JIMMY. TOTALLY COOL!! THAT WAS THE ONLY BUFFETT CONCERT I EVER MISSED BUT IT SURE WAS WORTH IT.
Bev
It was JazzFest in New Orleans, April 1989. Was hanging out late one night at what was then called "Storyville" and now known as "Margaritaville". Was watching a great cajun performer, Zachary Richard perform. After the show the house was emptied to get ready for a later evening show. My friend and I were allowed to stay because we knew the guys in the band. Well around 3AM I was walking to the back of Storyville to the little girls room and who is standing back in the back with 2 girls on his arm but the man himself, Mr. Jimmy Buffett. I played it cool said hello and strolled into the ladies room. When I walked out I caught his eye and told him that I was sorry I wasn't able to catch his tent show earlier as it was sold out...he just nodded and smiled. Well I made my way back up to the front of the stage to my friend, who was not a Buffett fan at the time, and I was going on and on about seeing Jimmy. About that time a voice behind me said "Excuse me, I need to get on stage". IT WAS HIM!!! He jumped on stage with Zachary and they sang a few songs together...didn't know at the time Jimmy could speak french. Anyway, while on stage he leaned downed and asked for a sip of my beer....and I of course was happy to share! So they finished this set sometime in the wee hours of the morning. Jimmy went off stage to the bar...my friend noticed that Jimmy was motioning for me to come over to the bar. I couldn't believe it...so I went and he offered to buy me a drinks since I was so kind as to share mine. Well, we had a beer, my friend came over and she had a beer. Before we knew it we were shooting tequila with Jimmy, oh and his friend Mr. Ed Bradley (of 60 minutes) was shooting with us along with Mr. Zachary Richard. What a blast!!! We did get the camera out and took a few pics...as soon as I have them scanned I will share them with you. Anyway, many tequilas later, Jimmy invited us all back to his townhouse in the french quarter for leftover bbq and we of course said YEAH! So picture this, me with Jimmy Buffett, Ed Bradley, my friend and a few other crazy's walking arm in arm through the french quarter singing "Why Don't We Get Drunk and......" The party continued until we all passed out, or left. Oh what a night!!! That is all I can share with you...hope you liked it. :-)
Skip
I graduated the class of 70 when Key West was just a sleepy Southern town. In 1970 the in flood of hippys came in, in the later 70s the Cubans, in the eightys the big money tourist trap assholes came in and finished off the old southern redneck island . . . which I miss more
and more and realize I can never come home because of all these new set of rules. But I did see Jimmy Buffett doing a folk set in Key West before he was nationaly famous. We used to sit around after sunset with all our guitars while the girls made supper . . . all 50 of us! All different type of instruments and play our brains out. One time over at jimmy's house, (you see we had no clue he would get famous later on), he had a friend who also became famous writing the book 98 degrees in the shade. About that time Peter Fonda came to the island to film the movie. One thing about jimmy's house back then, the girls always walked around naked. Fine too I must say. Oh back then he sold great "square groupers" too! I worked parttime at the Leather
Tree! If you look in the paper in the library, around 1967-68 Sherriff Thomas's nephew Buddy Salis got in an accident on prom night which took the lives of 3 other students. Well that was the biggest southern scandal. But don't forget about the famous treasure hunters. Some girls I knew showed me some pieces of eight from their boyfriend divers. One day all the girls came over, they were crying. A newspaper reporters son fell overboard and was chopped in half by the big propellers of the sandsucking boat. Some of the girls think he was pushed over in retaliation for something the father knew or saw. Oh well the class of 70 celebrated seniors day at Bahia Honda State Park when the bridge used to go right there. We had missles pointed at Cuba hidden in the keys. On Big Pond Key there was a lone alligator that lived in the pond. On the weekends we used to get drunk and drive up there - jump in the water and run out just in time so he wouldn't get us. That was 1970 in the Keys.
Miss J.J.
Every year for years we rented a whole block of rooms at the Holiday Inn at Carowinds for Jimmy's concert at the Paladium. During our last visit we had Drs....lawyers...and probably some Indian Chiefs as well. We had a total of 27 rooms. We were college kidz at the time. Jimmy came and partied in our hospitality suite. We all pressed charges against the Holiday Inn and got the manager fired!!! Saw Jimmy last at The Radison in Raleigh, NC: 2nd row center stage at the concert We went to The Radison for drinks afterwords (that's after Jimmy went "uptown!!!"
LoudenIt was 1977-78 I was 8 years old and Jimmy was playing a little bar on Wrightsville beach N.C. called the "Crest". My dad and my uncle were "baby-sitting" me and I got to tag along. The rest is parrothead history!!!! Jimmy may not remember the little kid he met but I'm sure he remembers the bus he wrecked that same weekend. "It was my first look!"
CajunMy friend and I was at the Southern Comfort lounge in Slidell LA one night at 3 am. We were
sitting at the bar when I looked over and guess who was sitting next to me but the ultimate parrothead himself. Well I bought him a Rolling Rock (since that was what he was drinking). He said he was coming back from Jazzfest to his mom's house in Alabama. He asked my friend and I to shoot a few rounds of pool. He then took us outside and pulled out his guitar. We played and we sang for a couple of hours. He gave me his number in the French Quarter and said to give him a call whenever he is in town.
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