"Margaritaville" singer Jimmy Buffett, whose beach-bum music spawned a billion-dollar empire died Friday.
He was 76.
"Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs," a statement read. "He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many."
No cause of death was given. Buffett had been ailing, canceling concerts in the spring and acknowledging he'd been hospitalized.
Buffett's mantra, embraced by his diehard fans (self-dubbed Parrotheads), was, "Grow older, but not up."
Born on December 25, 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Buffett grew up there and in Alabama.
He took up the guitar at Auburn University in Alabama and recorded his first album in 1970, the folky Down to Earth. Incredibly, he would not achieve his first no. 1 album on the Billboard 200 until age 57.
In fact, Buffett — while tasting success and building a following in the ' 70s — did not break through in a big way until the release of his his seventh studio album, Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes in 1977. It contained "Margaritaville," which became a no. 8 smash and established his escapist approach to life, a vibe that worked beautifully when it came time to open a cafe and resorts, and to establish products like branded frozen drinks.
"Margaritaville" is arguably the single most lucrative song ever written, and it ensured Buffett 45-plus years of sold-out shows, countless TV and movie cameos and an eternal spot in American popular culture.
Buffett released 29 studio albums in all (a 30th was announced in the spring), had five Top 40 hits and even achieved a dream when his Escape to Margaritaville musical played Broadway in 2018.
A major philanthropist for the Save the Manatee Club and other humanitarian and environmental causes, he was an early advocate of pot legalization and a huge Democratic Party fundraiser and donor.
Buffett, who was married and divorced once before, is survived by his wife of over 45 years, Jane, their two daughters and their adopted son.
