Thousands of Florida Keys residents and visitors gathered on Key West鈥檚 Duval Street late Sunday afternoon for a march honoring internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, who passed away Sept. 1 at age 76.
Buffett discovered Key West in the early 1970s and its influence is widely credited with inspiring many of his most enduring songs, including the signature hit Margaritaville.
March participants, some sporting the flower leis and offbeat headgear favored by Buffett鈥檚 鈥淧arrot Head鈥� fans, traveled up Duval to the Margaritaville Store and Caf茅 launched by the singer in the 1980s. There they sang his anthemic Margaritaville led by Florida Keys musician Howard Livingston.
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鈥淢argaritaville is totally right here in Key West and Jimmy put it on the map, and every day we live that," said Livingston, a longtime Florida Keys resident who has opened shows for Buffett.
As well as being Buffett鈥檚 home during some of his most productive years, Key West was the place where he developed the 鈥渢ropical rock鈥� style that flavored his music throughout his career. The island鈥檚 characters, landmarks and freewheeling lifestyle are referenced repeatedly in his lyrics.
鈥淎ny person walking down the street here, ask them how they wound up here, they鈥檒l mention Jimmy Buffett,鈥� Livingston said
Buffett鈥檚 portrayal of Key West in song made it a mecca for his fans, who this weekend left tributes at the Margaritaville enclave and at his unmarked Shrimpboat Sound recording studio.
Sunday鈥檚 march featured strolling musicians, people carrying large photos of Buffett, and the camaraderie found at his typically sold-out concerts.
Bill Crowley, who marched wearing a colorful parrot cap and flower leis, equated Buffett鈥檚 music with Florida Keys living.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very, very connected 鈥� it鈥檚 all about this Key West lifestyle that he epitomized with his music,鈥� said Crowley, a Key West resident.
Jimmy Buffett鈥檚 final Key West performances took place in February 2023, when he kicked off his 鈥淪econd Wind Tour鈥� with four unforgettable shows on the island that inspired his celebrated sound.
Buffett died of a rare, aggressive skin cancer, according to a statement on his website. The statement also disclosed where the Margaritaville singer died: at his home in Sag Harbor, New York, near the Hamptons.
He had been fighting the cancer for four years while continuing to perform, the last time making a surprise appearance in Rhode Island in early July, the statement said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
