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Jimmy Buffett was born on December 25, 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Later in his childhood, his family lived in Mobile, Alabama, where he attended St. Ignatius School and played trombone in the band. After Jimmy graduated high school in the small nearby town of Fairhope, where his family later moved, he went through several colleges while he started playing guitar. In 1969, after he graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree in journalism, he got a job at the Nashville branch of "Billboard" magazine. It was in Nashville where his recording career began with the folk rock-influenced 1970 debut album "Down to Earth." Released on Barnaby Records, which Andy Williams owned, the album sold poorly. He recorded a second album, "High Cumberland Jubilee," in 1971, but it did not see a release until 1976.
Buffett spent most of his time playing on the streets to entertain New Orleans tourists. When a fellow singer took him on a trip to Key West, Florida, it affected his musical style. His work began to incorporate influences from country, rock and folk music with the atmosphere of the Gulf Coast.
By 1973, he had signed to ABC Dunhill Records. During his time there, he recorded the albums "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean," which included the song "Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw," "Living & Dying in 3/4 Time," which included the songs "Come Monday" and "Pencil Thin Mustache," "A1A," which included "A Pirate Looks at Forty," "Havaņa Daydreaming," "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes," which included his signature song "Margaritaville," and "Son of a Son of a Sailor," which included the hit song "Cheeseburger in Paradise." During this period, he released first of 13 live albums, "You Had to Be There."
MCA Records bought ABC Dunhill records in 1979 and folded the label. Buffett stayed with MCA throughout the 1980s and most of the 1990s, recording 13 more studio albums, and touring frequently for his devoted fans that call themselves "Parrotheads." In 1993, he formed his own label, Margarita Records, which was distributed by MCA until 1996, when he moved to Island Records. In 1999, he formed Mailboat Records to handle live albums, but it has released two studio albums as well. Currently, RCA distributes its output. His biggest hit in the 21st century was his duet with Alan Jackson, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere."
Jimmy Buffett is currently embarked on the Lounging at the Lagoon Tour. It begins in Austin, Texas, on May, 30, 2012, and is scheduled to play 18 dates, with the last one scheduled for Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 27, 2012. Tickets are now available.
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