“And honey I didn't know That I'd be missin' you so…”- Jimmy Buffett

September 4, 2023

“And honey I didn't know
That I'd be missin' you so…”- Jimmy Buffett

Having lived in Key West for thirty-two years now, it was impossible to escape the legend that is Jimmy Buffett. His impact and influence on the island is something that cannot be defined, Key West is intrinsically linked to the man and vice versa and I feel fortunate to have been able to share in that connection in many ways, so it came as a complete shock when I learned that the legend had passed away.

The amazing outpouring of sadness and celebration of the man, his life and music and his Key West connections was something to behold as the island community came together in a way that I have seldom seen in my years here. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised as you can not live or even have visited Key West without having been impacted by the man, his life and music. I certainly have been, though I cannot claim as seemingly every Key West resident seems to be doing, to have known the man, in spite of crossing his paths many times over the years.

I wasn’t one of the many fans who were drawn to the island because of his music. I knew of it but when I first arrived, I wasn’t really a huge fan. I knew and enjoyed his music and it certainly grew on me over time, but it wasn’t really my thing when I was younger. I knew he was a big deal though, and I met him numerous times in my first five or six years on the island.

He was a big fan of the non-profit that I worked for during the first fifteen years that I lived with and would sometimes stop in the office as he knew the couple who founded the organization and did some PSAs and eventually played a concert at East Martello as a benefit. He also showed up and played at one of the annual Cayo Carnival benefits for Reef Relief, which was pretty cool.

Being a small town, and knowing people who worked at Margaritaville, we would often get a heads up when he was playing a private show at his bar, and I think I have been to see him play there six times over the years. Including one memorable night where he only played Rolling Stones covers and another where he was joined by legendary singer/songwriter James Taylor in what may have been one of my best evening ever in Key West.

He often played at other venues around town as well and I had the good fortune to see him play at Finnegan’s Wake and at Blue Heaven. After seeing him in such small intimate venues, and becoming more and more familiar and respectful of his music, I was becoming a fan. So much so that I began signing up to attend the annual Parrothead convention, Meeting of the Minds, which was always held in November and hosted at the Casa Marina.

In addition to seeing awesome musical acts who both influenced and were influenced by Jimmy, such as Keith Sykes and Jerry Jeff Walker, who played at the event, every few years Jimmy himself would show up, usually unannounced to play a full set for the adoring fans. Over the years I saw multiple shows including on the stage at the Casa Marina, on the main Duval Street Stage and even on the pier at Truman Annex. 

In recent years, we were fortunate enough to see his private show at the San Carlos back before Covid and then this past February when it was announced that he was playing what turned out to be his final shows ever in Key West, two at the intimate Key West Theater and a pair at the larger Coffee Butler Amphitheater. 

Kathy and I managed to get seats at one each of those final shows, and while I heard whispers that Jimmy was ill and these would be his final shows ever in Key West, you couldn’t tell from the performances. The more intimate show at the Key West Theater, which was filled with his family, close friends and old time Key Westers was a true gem as his story telling and reminiscing about his time here made it an extra special show.

His passing hit me pretty hard, for while I did not know him other than meeting him at shows and events over the years, we have many, many friends who did know him well, worked for the man or called him a close personal friend and it is their loss that hits closet to home. Certainly the entire community can claim him and there is a pall of grief over the island, but those who were closest to him as a person rather than an icon get my special sympathy.

But what I will miss most are those occasional Jimmy sightings that I used to have with some frequency. In fact, I once lived next door to a house he owned and often stayed in on William Street. He didn’t live there at the time, but would stay there often when recording or visiting town. I would often see him riding his bike to and from the house or getting in and out of his little red sports car. He was always friendly and would say hello, something the other famous guests who stayed at the property would rarely do. That is the person I will miss most. Kathy and I express our deepest sympathy to those who knew him best, family, friends and fans.

https://www.jimmybuffett.com/