Buffett began composing the song after visiting a local Mexican restaurant
Ryan White begins his new biography of Jimmy Buffett with the transcript of a 2012 hearing before the Nevada Gaming Control Board."It's been a pretty good song," Buffett casually responds."No, it was written in five minutes about a hot day in Austin, Texas, with a margarita and a beautiful woman. I finished it in Key West. I had no idea."
The literal value of"Margaritaville," however, resides in a watershed 1983 trademark dispute and resolution. Margaritaville Holdings, owned solely by Buffett and his business partner John Cohlan, now umbrellas everything from branded casinos, restaurants, and resorts across the world to a jewelry line and merchandise of nearly everything imaginable. Earlier this year, the company announced plans for"Latitude Margaritaville," retirement communities for Parrotheads"55 or better.
If not exactly a fixture, Buffett at least became a familiar fellow traveler among local songwriters. He honed his solo act at Castle Creek with performances relying as much on a definitively Southern raconteur approach to stage patter as his songs themselves. During a multiple-night run at the seminal Lavaca Street listening room, Buffett also acquired the first piece of his Coral Reefer Band when Roger Bartlett convinced him he needed a lead guitarist.
"Buffett wasn't really country," admits local genre pioneer Bob Livingston."Jerry Jeff and Murphey were both folkies, but what made them folkies was the fact that Herb Steiner played steel guitar with. Buffett was on the fringes of that. He was a little more mellow, certainly more than Jerry Jeff. He really had that island feel."Austin paid attention because they paid attention to interesting things, and Jimmy was doing interesting songs," asserts White.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett, who turned beach-bum life into an empire, dies at 76“Margaritaville” singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett has died at age 76.
Read more »
'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett, who turned beach-bum life into an empire, dies at 76“Margaritaville” singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett has died at age 76.
Read more »
'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett, who turned beach-bum life into an empire, dies at 76“Margaritaville” singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett has died at age 76
Read more »
'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett, who turned beach-bum life into an empire, dies at 76“Margaritaville” singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett has died at age 76.
Read more »
Singer Jimmy Buffett dies at 76Legendary 'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett has died at 76.
Read more »