'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett, who maintained Canadian roots while turning beach-bum life into an empire, dies at 76
CTV
Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock with the escapist Caribbean-flavoured song "Margaritaville" and turned that celebration of loafing into a billion-dollar empire of restaurants, resorts and frozen concoctions, has died. He was 76.
Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who popularized beach bum soft rock with the escapist Caribbean-flavoured song "Margaritaville" and turned that celebration of loafing into a billion-dollar empire of restaurants, resorts and frozen concoctions, has died. He was 76.
"Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs," a statement posted to Buffett's official website and social media pages said late Friday. "He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many."
The statement did not say where Buffett died or provide a cause of death. Illness had forced him to reschedule concerts in May and Buffett acknowledged in social media posts that he had been hospitalized, but provided no specifics.
Buffett previously told The Canadian Press of his Canadian lineage, saying he maintains a close connection to his family on the East Coast.
"Canada holds a special place in my heart," he said in a 2004 interview. "I've got more family in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia than I do in the States."
When he came to the East Coast, visiting family and fishing topped his list of preferred activities.
He also spoke of his fondness for Canadian songwriters, saying he kept "a keen ear to the north," favouring the likes of Gordon Lightfoot and Lennie Gallant, among others. He performed several songs penned by Canadian legend Bruce Cockburn, with two of those tracks -- "Anything Anytime Anywhere" and "Someone I Used to Love" -- appearing on his 2004 album "License to Chill."
