American musician whose debut album, “Down to Earth” reportedly sold only 324 copies in 1970. Subsequently, he became a best-selling recording artist with his “Margaritaville” alone selling millions of copies.
After a major of history and journalism at the University of Mississippi, Buffet worked as a free-lance journalist until moving to Nashville in 1969 in an attempt to connect with a record contract. In 1972 he relocated to Florida where he lived on a 52′ ketch. With a seafaring lifestyle, he played in local piano bars by night. In 1973 he began recording – – and selling. He scored and appeared in the movie “Rancho Deluxe” in 1974 and played minor bits in several other films along the way. On July 13, his first hit single hit the U.S. charts at No.30, “Come Monday.”
From 1975 he working with a backing band, putting out chart-making hits and live gigs. By 1981 he was spending more time at sea in the Caribbean than in touring. He opened a store in Key West named Margaritaville in 1982 in which he sells the tropical shirts which had become synonymous with his image. Devoted to the sea and it’s creatures, he became chairman of the Save the Manatee committee. He launched The Coconut Telegraph, a regular newsletter for his fans, which maintained a consistent mailing of some 4,000 copies.
In 1984, Buffet’s business interests expanded with his line of tropical design shirts reaching distribution in stores across the U.S. Though he kept putting out hit songs and doing tours, his interests ranged variously into other areas. In 1987 he wrote a children’s book, “The Jolly Man,” with his eight-year-old daughter Savannah Jane. In 1989 he invested in a Florida Minor League baseball team. In 1991, he was playing to crowds of more than 30,000 fans at sell-out concerts, and a concert in Cincinnati, OH had a draw of 71,670 people.
His newly formed Margaritaville Records put out its maiden issue on 6/13/1992, “Boats Beaches Bars and Ballads.” On 9/12/1992, his second book was released, the novel “Where is Joe Merchant?” and topped the New York Times best-seller list.
Link to Wikipedia biography