It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere

Jimmy Buffett passed away Friday at age 76. Earlier that day, I was driving home with my wife, and we were listening to Sirius Radio Margaritaville, which had a countdown of Jimmy Buffett’s greatest hits. We got home a little early and sat in the car a few minutes longer to hear the final songs. Actually, the only reason I subscribed to Sirius was because of Jimmy Buffett. We heard afterward that Jimmy succumbed, but his music, smiley face and good cheer will live on forever.

Jimmy was a great songwriter and performer, but he was also a great businessman and created a masterful brand that will long survive him. We tend to admire some singers and also their songwriting ability. What we do not usually consider is the efforts necessary to put on a concert which takes upwards of 200 people to field it. Also, when he appeared on the morning Today Show, there were about 25 people on the stage with him. This takes a lot of coordination, logistics and planning not only because of the cost of the equipment but also the danger from the electrical wires that need excessive care and cautious management. Also, while he could probably play the guitar and sing solo as I’ve seen him do on a David Letterman Show, his brand would be diminished vis a vis having the entire backup. He was continuously conscious of the value of his brand, and he certainly always put on a “show.” He also smartly extended his brand. During the COVID lockdown, I purchased a “Cabin Fever” hat from his website but passed on the reissue of the vintage Tee Shirts.

His net worth hit the billion-dollar mark, and that was pretty cool, but it took all of his energy, creativity and business acumen to achieve that. He wasn’t an overnight success but grew his business one song, one idea, one extra effort and one step forward at a time with some luck along the way. That is how success works. He was being treated for four years for the cancer that killed him, but he kept on working and performing. His last full concert was May 6^th, and he did a surprise 45-minute walk-on gig on July 2^nd.

I watched Jimmy Buffett on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show on May 12, 2022, and they were talking about his first appearance on the Johnny Carson show 41 years earlier and his career since. Toward the end of the interview, Fallon asked Buffett what he was particularly proud of in his career, and he replied, “I was on this stage 41 years ago with Johnny Carson, and now I am on it with you. I think that is something to be pretty proud about.” It was a proud achievement, and Jimmy Buffett had a proud career. He was loved, he will be missed, and his music made us feel good and will continue to be enjoyed. Further, Jimmy Buffett certainly will be remembered anytime and anywhere someone has a Margarita.