NEW YORK — Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, whose Caribbean-flavored song “Margaritaville” was turned into a billion-dollar empire of restaurants, resorts and more, has passed away. He was 76.
“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” a press release posted to Buffett’s official website and social media pages said late Friday. “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 has been confirmed by time of publication, though illness forced Buffett to reschedule shows earlier in the year.
Buffett began his musical career in Nashville, Tennessee, in the late 1960s as a country artist and recorded his first album, the country-tinged folk rock record “Down to Earth,” in 1970.
“Margaritaville,” released on Feb. 14, 1977, quickly exploded in popularity the world over, resonating with a generation that wanted to enjoy “growing older, but not up.”
