107-397: James William Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023) was an American singer-songwriter. He was known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapism" and promoted enjoying life and following passions. Buffett recorded many hit songs, including those known as "The Big 8": " Margaritaville " (1977), which is ranked 234th on
214-588: A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. In 1962, 20-year-old Marty Balin recorded two singles for Challenge Records , neither of which was successful. He then played in a folk quartet, the Town Criers, from April 1963 to June 1964. With the Beatles -led British Invasion , Balin was inspired by the emerging folk rock genre to form a group in March 1965 that would follow that lead, as well as opening
321-505: A benefit concert for the San Francisco Mime Troupe , the first of many promotions by rising Bay Area entrepreneur Bill Graham , who later became the band's manager. By late 1965, Jefferson Airplane, under Katz's management, had turned down recording offers from Capitol , Valiant , Fantasy , Elektra , and London . In November 1965, Jefferson Airplane signed a recording contract with RCA Victor , which included
428-487: A "special Gulf Coast blend of country, pop , folk and rock, topped by Buffett's swaying voice. Few can mix steelpans , trombones and pedal steel guitar so effortlessly." Musicians that have cited Buffett as a musical influence include Greg "Fingers" Taylor , a former member of Buffett's Coral Reefer Band , as well as musicians that have "latched on to his seaside-and-booze themes" such as Kenny Chesney , Alan Jackson , and Zac Brown . Parrot Head or parrothead
535-778: A Home", written about his experiences in Key West. Buffett used the money he made from the album to buy his first boat. Living & Dying in 3/4 Time , recorded in October 1973 and released in February 1974, deviated from the island-theme of Buffett's other albums. It included " Come Monday ", written for his then-girlfriend and future wife, his first single to place on the Billboard Hot 100 . A1A , released in December 1974, included " A Pirate Looks at Forty ", written about
642-413: A January 1996 incident in which Buffett's Grumman HU-16 airplane named Hemisphere Dancer was shot at by Jamaican police, who believed the craft to be smuggling marijuana. The aircraft sustained minimal damage. The plane was carrying Buffett as well as Bono of U2 , Bono's wife and two children, Island Records producer Chris Blackwell , and co-pilot Bill Dindy. The Jamaican government acknowledged
749-681: A band. A native San Franciscan, Kantner had started out performing on the Bay Area folk circuit in the early 1960s, alongside fellow folkies Jerry Garcia and David Crosby . He cited folk groups like the Kingston Trio and the Weavers as strong early influences. He briefly moved to Los Angeles in 1964 to work in a folk duo with future Airplane/Starship member David Freiberg (who subsequently joined Quicksilver Messenger Service ). Balin and Kantner then recruited other musicians to form
856-471: A child, Buffett was exposed to sailing: his grandfather, James Delaney Buffett, was a steamship captain from Newfoundland , and his father was a marine engineer and sailor—these experiences later influenced his music. Buffett was educated by Jesuits as a Catholic and served as an altar boy . In 1961, after seeing a folk music ensemble perform in Biloxi, Mississippi , Buffett realized that he wanted to be
963-606: A combination of "tropical languor with country funkiness into what some [have] called the Key West sound, or Gulf-and-western." The name "Gulf-and-western" derives from elements in Buffett's early music including musical influence from country , along with lyrical themes from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico . It is a play on the form of "Country & Western" and Gulf+Western is the former parent company of Paramount Pictures . In 2020, The Associated Press described Buffett's sound as
1070-528: A contract with Katz until December 1965. After rehearsing throughout the summer, the group made its first public appearance as Jefferson Airplane at the opening night of The Matrix on August 13, 1965. The band expanded from its folk roots, drawing inspiration from the Beatles , the Byrds and the Lovin' Spoonful , and gradually developed a more pop-oriented electric sound. Later that month, John L. Wasserman of
1177-558: A dedicated rhythm guitarist in their electric performances until November 1970) performed as the opening act to Jefferson Airplane with a combination of both electric and acoustic sets. In April 1969, sessions began for their next album, Volunteers , using new 16-track facilities at the Wally Heider Studio in San Francisco. This proved to be the last album by the "classic" lineup of the group. The album's release
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#17327909855691284-405: A double CD of performances recorded during the 2008 and 2009 tours called Encores was released exclusively at Walmart , Walmart.com, and Margaritaville.com. In 2010, Buffett was named the tenth biggest touring artist of the decade, with 4.5 million ticket sales over the previous 10 years. Since Wyatt Durrette , co-writer of the song " Knee Deep ", was a fan of Buffett's, Buffett partnered on
1391-481: A drink special. In October 1985, he released the compilation album Songs You Know By Heart , which included all of the "Big Eight" songs and was his best selling album, selling over 7 million copies by 2005. In 1994, Buffett dueted with Frank Sinatra on a cover of " Mack the Knife " on Sinatra's final studio album, Duets II . In 1996, Buffett penned the song "Jamaica Mistaica" for his Banana Wind album based on
1498-771: A drug smuggler. In 1975, Buffett formed the Coral Reefer Band . He credits his future wife for cleaning up their look, replacing their ripped Levi jeans and collarless shirts. The band was the opening act for the Eagles in August 1975. Havana Daydreamin' , produced by Don Gant , was released in January 1976. In January 1977, Buffett released Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes , which, in addition to
1605-507: A friend of Covington who officially joined Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane for their fall tour in October 1970. Touring continued throughout 1970, but the group's only new recordings that year were the single " Mexico " backed with the B-side "Have You Seen the Saucers?" Slick's "Mexico" was an attack on President Richard Nixon 's Operation Intercept , which had been implemented to curtail
1712-421: A harder-edged style, openly criticized Balin for his ballad -oriented compositions. Balin was also reportedly becoming increasingly disenchanted with the "star trips" and "inflated egos" generated by the band's runaway commercial success. In contrast to "White Rabbit" and "Somebody To Love", "The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil" only peaked at No. 42 and "Watch Her Ride" stalled at No. 61. Both singles did reach
1819-534: A journalist in Nashville, for lodging in his house in Coconut Grove . In November 1971, they went to Key West on a busking expedition; Buffett liked it so much that he moved there in the spring of 1972. There, Buffett got involved in the literary scene, meeting writers Thomas McGuane (who married Buffett's sister), Jim Harrison , Tom Corcoran , and Truman Capote ; sex and drugs were plentiful. Buffett
1926-451: A musician. His first performance was a month later at a hootenanny , where he played a Stella guitar. Buffett attended St. Ignatius School, where he played the trombone in the school band at age 8 in the 1950s. Buffett graduated from McGill Institute in 1964. Buffett enrolled at Auburn University and was taught how to play guitar by a Sigma Pi fraternity brother to "garner attention from girls". Buffett failed out of Auburn after
2033-615: A nightclub for them to perform. With a group of investors, he purchased a former pizza parlor on Fillmore Street in San Francisco and converted it into a club called the Matrix . Meanwhile, he searched for like-minded musicians to form his group. Balin met fellow folk guitarist and singer Paul Kantner during a hootenanny at another local club, the Drinking Gourd, and invited Kantner to join him in putting together
2140-512: A notorious incident at a concert in Amsterdam , while the Airplane was performing "Plastic Fantastic Lover", Doors singer Jim Morrison , under the influence of a combination of drugs fans had given him, appeared on stage and began dancing "like a pinwheel ". As the group played faster and faster, Morrison spun around wildly until he finally fell senseless on the stage at Balin's feet. Morrison
2247-533: A plane crash in September 1973, Dunhill promoted Buffett as a replacement. Buffett's second release and his first release on ABC/Dunhill Records was A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean , recorded at Tompall Glaser 's Glaser Sound recording studio on Music Row and released in June 1973. The album featured the hit singles " Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit " and " Why Don't We Get Drunk " as well as "I Have Found Me
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#17327909855692354-412: A prerequisite for Top Ten hits. In February 1968, manager Bill Graham was fired after Slick delivered an "either he goes or I go" ultimatum. Bill Thompson took over as permanent manager and set about consolidating the group's financial security, establishing Icebag Corp. to oversee the band's publishing interests and purchasing a 20-room mansion at 2400 Fulton Street across from Golden Gate Park near
2461-609: A shipyard as an electrician and welder. He avoided serving in the Vietnam War due to a college deferment and a failed physical exam. After graduating in 1969, Buffett moved to New Orleans and often held street performances for tourists on Decatur Street and played for drunken crowds in the former Bayou Room nightclub on Bourbon Street . In 1970, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee , to further his country music career. Buffett did not have much luck with music jobs but found work as an editorial assistant for Billboard , where he
2568-654: A single in March 1968. A few tracks recorded for the LP were left off the album but later included as bonus tracks, including the Grace Slick/ Frank Zappa collaboration "Would You Like a Snack?" The Airplane's appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in October of that year caused a minor stir when Slick appeared in blackface and raised her fist in the Black Panther Party 's salute after singing "Crown of Creation". In November 1968,
2675-611: A then unheard-of advance of $ 25,000 (equivalent to $ 242,000 in 2023). Before this, they had recorded a demo for Columbia Records of "The Other Side Of This Life" with Harvey on bass, which was immediately rejected by the label. On December 10, 1965, the Airplane played at the first Bill Graham-promoted show at the Fillmore Auditorium, supported by the Great Society and others. The Airplane also appeared at numerous Family Dog shows promoted by Chet Helms at
2782-695: A year, in April 1966, "unable to balance his newfound interests in music and girls with his college classes". In 1966, Buffett played acid rock in a band called the Upstairs Alliance that attempted to emulate the sound of Jefferson Airplane . He continued college at Pearl River Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1969. In college, Buffett worked in
2889-453: A year, peaking at No. 3. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc . The name "Surrealistic Pillow" was suggested by the album's informal producer, Jerry Garcia , when he mentioned that, as a whole, the album sounded "as surrealistic as a pillow is soft." Although RCA did not acknowledge Garcia's contributions to the album with a production credit, he is listed in the album's credits as "spiritual advisor." In addition to
2996-532: Is a commonly used nickname for Buffett fans, with "parakeets" or "keets" used for younger fans, or children of Parrotheads. At a 1985 Jimmy Buffett concert at the Timberwolf Amphitheater at Kings Island in Mason, Ohio , Buffett commented about everyone wearing Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats and how they kept coming back to see his shows, just like Deadheads . Timothy B. Schmit , then a member of
3103-511: Is all it is...I'm not the first one to do it, nor shall I probably be the last. But I think it's really a part of the human condition that you've got to have some fun. You've got to get away from whatever you do to make a living or other parts of life that stress you out. I try to make it at least 50/50 fun to work and so far it's worked out." -Jimmy Buffett In 1989, a music critic in The Washington Post described Buffett's music as
3210-432: Is composed mostly of baby boomers . His concerts were known for tailgate parties and alcohol consumption. Buffett wrote three books, all of which placed on The New York Times Best Seller list . Tales from Margaritaville and Where Is Joe Merchant? both spent over seven months on The New York Times Best Seller fiction list. His memoir A Pirate Looks at Fifty , published in 1998, went straight to number one on
3317-500: Is on "escapism"—a laid back lifestyle, tropical places, boating, simplifying and having fun. Buffett is often referred to as the "Pop of Trop Rock" alongside his Coral Reefer Band and other artists like Higgins helped create a tropical sub-culture beginning in the early to mid-1980s. Mainstream artists Jack Johnson , Zac Brown Band , Alan Jackson , and Kenny Chesney also have songs in the genre as well. In 2000, WBWC , Dennis King of Island Time Radio began programming this format on
Jimmy Buffett - Misplaced Pages Continue
3424-843: Is usually associated with southern Florida and the Gulf Coast of the United States, tropical rock has its roots in calypso, rock, and country by artists such as Jerry Jeff Walker . Jimmy Buffett and his Coral Reefer Band helped create a tropical sub-culture beginning in the early to mid-1980s, along with other artists including Bertie Higgins . Instrumentation is usually based around an acoustic guitar (as well as electric instrumentation), and often includes steel drums , congas , marimbas , vibraphones , steel guitars , or other percussion instruments to create an "island sound". While country and other musical styles focus on falling in love/falling out of love themes, Trop Rock's main focus
3531-528: The San Francisco Chronicle praised the band's "musical approach and style"—noting their blend of folk, blues, and rock and roll —and remarked, "Although there are but hints at this time, it is entirely possible that this will be the new direction of contemporary pop music." A few weeks after the group started performing, Peloquin departed because of conflicts with his bandmates, in part because of his disdain for their drug use. Although he
3638-580: The Avalon Ballroom . The group's first single was Balin's "It's No Secret" (a tune he wrote with Otis Redding in mind); the B-side was "Runnin' Round This World", the song that led to the band's first clash with RCA Victor over the lyric "The nights I've spent with you have been fantastic trips". After their debut LP was completed in March 1966, Skip Spence quit the band and he was eventually replaced by Spencer Dryden , who played his first show with
3745-518: The Coral Reefer Band in 1975. Of the over 30 albums released by Buffett, eight are certified gold and nine are certified platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. In total, Buffett sold over 20 million certified records worldwide, placing him amongst the world's best-selling music artists. In addition to two Grammy Award nominations, Buffett was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in
3852-590: The Coral Reefer Band , coined the term "Parrot Head" to describe them. In 1989, the first Parrothead club was founded in Atlanta . The annual Meeting of the Minds in Key West, Florida is a five-day festival held after Fantasy Fest that attracts approximately 5,000 Parrotheads. The Pikes Peak Hash House Harriers and Harriettes have an annual Parrot Head Hash weekend hosted by Yeastee Boy and Bread Box. Buffett's fanbase
3959-621: The Fillmore West on October 24–26 and the Fillmore East on November 28–30. It became the Airplane's fourth Top 20 album, peaking at No. 17. Hot Tuna began during a break in Jefferson Airplane's touring schedule in early 1969 while Grace Slick recovered from throat node surgery that left her unable to perform. Kaukonen, Casady, Kantner and drummer Joey Covington played several shows around San Francisco, including
4066-659: The Haight-Ashbury , which became the band's office and communal residence. Bill Laudner was hired as road manager. In mid-1968, the group was photographed for a Life magazine story on "The New Rock", appearing on the cover of the June 28, 1968 edition. They undertook their first major tour of Europe in August–September 1968, playing alongside the Doors in the Netherlands , England , Germany and Sweden . In
4173-527: The National Education Association for its alleged negative effect on children's education. Comedian Jon Stewart also jokingly criticized the song on The Daily Show during a segment called "Math Is Quite Pleasant". By 1999, Buffett had shifted to a more relaxed concert schedule of around 20–30 dates per year, with infrequent back-to-back nights, preferring to play only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. This schedule provided
4280-579: The New York Times Best Seller nonfiction list, making him one of the few authors to have reached number one on both the fiction and nonfiction lists. Buffett also co-wrote two children's books, The Jolly Mon and Trouble Dolls, with his eldest daughter, Savannah Buffett . The original hardcover release of The Jolly Mon included a cassette tape recording of the two reading the story accompanied by an original score written by Michael Utley . Buffett's novel A Salty Piece of Land
4387-689: The Recording Industry Association of America 's list of " Songs of the Century "; " Come Monday " (1974); " Fins " (1979); " Volcano " (1979); " A Pirate Looks at Forty " (1974); " Cheeseburger in Paradise " (1978); " Why Don't We Get Drunk " (1973); and " Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes " (1977). His other popular songs include " Son of a Son of a Sailor " (1978), " One Particular Harbour " (1983), and " It's Five O'Clock Somewhere " with Alan Jackson (2003). Buffett formed
Jimmy Buffett - Misplaced Pages Continue
4494-561: The U.S. West Coast in early 1966, mentioned the Airplane in his song "The Fat Angel", which subsequently appeared on his Sunshine Superman LP. The group's second LP , Surrealistic Pillow , recorded in Los Angeles with producer Rick Jarrard in 13 days at a cost of $ 8,000, launched the Airplane to international fame. Released in February 1967, the LP entered the Billboard 200 album chart on March 25 and remained there for over
4601-436: The title track , featured his breakthrough hit song " Margaritaville ". Buffett claims that he wrote most of the song in six minutes. Ironically, while it attempts to negatively portray tourists in Key West, it led to an increase in tourism to the city. That year, Buffett sublet his apartment in Key West to Hunter S. Thompson . Buffett first traveled to Saint Barthélemy in 1978 and moved there shortly thereafter, where he got
4708-413: The "trop rock" genre to include Radio Trop Rock , Beach Radio , Beachfront Radio , Palapa Mac Radio , Shore Life Radio , Songwriter's Island Radio , Tiki Pod Radio , Permanent Vacation Radio, Beach Bar Radio, and Oyster Radio. Jefferson Airplane Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco , California in 1965. One of the pioneering bands of psychedelic rock ,
4815-605: The Airplane at the Berkeley Folk Festival on July 4, 1966. Dryden had previously played with a Los Angeles group called the Ashes, which later became the Peanut Butter Conspiracy . Original manager Katz was fired in August, sparking a long-running legal battle that continued until 1987, and Balin's friend and roommate Bill Thompson was installed as road manager and temporary band manager. It
4922-539: The Airplane on October 30 in the Harmon Gym at the University of California, Berkeley . The group's performance skills improved rapidly and they soon gained a strong following in and around San Francisco, aided by reviews from music journalist Ralph J. Gleason , the jazz critic of the San Francisco Chronicle . After seeing them at the Matrix, Gleason wrote in the September 13 edition of his "On
5029-409: The Airplane's commercial breakthrough—she possessed a powerful and supple contralto voice that complemented Balin's and was well-suited to the group's amplified psychedelic music. A former model, her good looks and stage presence greatly enhanced the group's live impact. " White Rabbit " was written by Slick while she was still with The Great Society. The first album she recorded with Jefferson Airplane
5136-572: The Airplane's original club, The Matrix, before Jefferson Airplane resumed performing. Their early repertoire derived mainly from Airplane material that Kaukonen (the band's frontman) sang and covers of American ragtime artist Jelly Roll Morton , and country blues artists such as Reverend Gary Davis , Bo Carter and Blind Blake . In addition, Casady and Kaukonen played as a duo under the moniker with Kaukonen on acoustic guitar and Casady on electric bass. From October 1969 to November 1970, Hot Tuna (also including Balin and, following Kantner's departure,
5243-870: The Airplane's set were subsequently included in the D. A. Pennebaker film documentary of the event. In August 1967, the Airplane performed in Montreal , Quebec, Canada, at two free outdoor concerts, along with fellow Bay Area band the Grateful Dead . The first concert was held in downtown Montreal at Place Ville Marie , and the second was at the Youth Pavilion of Expo 67 . The Airplane also benefited greatly from appearances on national network TV shows such as The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on NBC and The Ed Sullivan Show on CBS. The Airplane's famous appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour performing "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love"
5350-429: The B-side of their only single, "Free Advice", produced by Sylvester Stewart (soon to become famous as Sly Stone ). It reportedly took more than 50 takes to achieve a satisfactory rendition. The Great Society split up in late 1966 and played its last show on September 11. Soon after, Slick was asked to join Jefferson Airplane by Casady (whose musicianship was a major influence on her decision) and her Great Society contract
5457-628: The Empire peaked at No. 20 in the United States and was the first rock album nominated for the Hugo Award . Jefferson Airplane ended 1970 with their traditional Thanksgiving Day engagement at the Fillmore East (marking the final performances of the short-lived Creach-era septet) and the release of their first compilation album, The Worst of Jefferson Airplane , which continued their unbroken run of post-1967 chart success, reaching No. 12 on
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#17327909855695564-527: The Grateful Dead's withdrawal from the program, they became the only band to perform at all three of the iconic rock festivals of the 1960s—Altamont, Monterey Pop , and Woodstock . Headlined by The Rolling Stones , the concert was marred by violence. Balin was knocked out during a scuffle with Hells Angels members who had been hired to act as "security." The event became notorious for the fatal stabbing of black teenager Meredith Hunter in front of
5671-490: The Musical Excellence category in 2024. Buffett also parlayed the "island escapism" lifestyle of his music into several business ventures, including Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant chain, the now-defunct Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant chain, and ventures in hotels, casinos, liquor, and retirement communities. With a net worth of $ 1 billion, Buffett was one of the world's richest musicians . He
5778-576: The Top 40 in Cash Box , however. None of the band's subsequent singles reached the Billboard Top 40 and several failed to chart at all. AM Top 40 radio became wary of a group that had scored a hit with a song that contained thinly veiled drug references and whose singles were often deemed too controversial, so Jefferson Airplane never again enjoyed the kind of widespread AM radio support that served as
5885-400: The Town Criers, Balin's previous group, but was turned down because of disagreements over his terms. Peloquin reintroduced Katz to Balin, who had been trying to find a manager for Jefferson Airplane. Katz enticed the band by mentioning that he had access to an unreleased Bob Dylan song, " Lay Down Your Weary Tune ", and they appointed him as their manager, although they did not officially sign
5992-530: The Town" column that the band, still without a record deal, would "obviously record for someone" eventually. Gleason's support raised the band's profile considerably, and within three months Katz was fielding offers from recording companies, although they had yet to perform outside the San Francisco Bay Area . Two significant early concerts featuring the Airplane were held in late 1965. The first
6099-557: The air in Cleveland, Ohio and streaming worldwide on Monday nights. Dennis King passed away in 2024 with his last show Tropical Play with DK airing on Radio Trop Rock. Radio Margaritaville , available on Sirius XM Radio , also plays many of the genre's hits. As the genre flourished with the guidance of the Trop Rock Music Association, independently owned internet radio stations began to rise to popularity within
6206-414: The album chart and receiving a gold certification. Slick's " Lather ", which opens the album, is said to be about her affair with drummer Spencer Dryden and his 30th birthday. " Triad ", a David Crosby composition, had been rejected by The Byrds because they deemed its subject matter (a ménage à trois ) to be too "hot." Slick's searing sexual and social-commentary anthem "Greasy Heart" was released as
6313-504: The album was released, although they were found in 1976, once Buffett became popular. In the fall of 1971, after an impromptu audition, Buffett was hired by the Exit/In, a Nashville club, as the opening act for recording artist Dianne Davidson. Unhappy with the business climate in Nashville and with his first marriage heading for divorce, Buffett took up an offer by fellow country singer Jerry Jeff Walker , whom he had met while working as
6420-636: The album, Buffett topped the U.S. pop albums chart for the first time in his career. In May 2005, Buffett signed an agreement with Sirius Satellite Radio to broadcast Radio Margaritaville , which, from its founding in 1998, was broadcast only online. The channel broadcasts from the Margaritaville Resort Orlando in Kissimmee, Florida . In August 2006, Buffett released the album Take the Weather with You , which hit number 1 on
6527-446: The animated film FernGully: The Last Rainforest , which was sung in the film by rap artist Tone Loc . Tropical rock Tropical rock (also known as trop rock or Gulf and Western ) is a genre of popular music that incorporates elements and influences of rock , reggae , country , folk , calypso , zydeco , and pop music , with themes and musical compositions inspired by an island style. Although today tropical rock
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#17327909855696634-584: The band headlined at a free concert in New York's Central Park in August 1969, they performed in what Slick called the "morning maniac music" slot at the Woodstock Festival , for which the group was joined by noted British session keyboard player Nicky Hopkins . When interviewed about Woodstock by Jeff Tamarkin in 1992, Kantner recalled it with fondness, whereas Slick and Dryden had less rosy memories. Immediately after their Woodstock performance,
6741-413: The band played "House at Pooneil Corners" on a New York City rooftop. It was filmed for D. A. Pennebaker movie 1 PM . The concert was stopped by the police just like The Beatles ' famous rooftop concert about two months later, as depicted in the documentary Let It Be (1970). In February 1969, RCA released the live album Bless Its Pointed Little Head , which was culled from 1968 performances at
6848-417: The band taped an appearance on The Dick Cavett Show and played a few songs. Other guests on that same episode were David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Joni Mitchell . The new album was finally released in the United States in November 1969 with the title shortened to Volunteers . The album continued the Airplane's run of Top 20 LPs, peaking at No. 13 and attaining a RIAA gold certification early in 1970. It
6955-442: The band. Her final performance with the Airplane took place at the Fillmore on October 15, 1966. A recording of the performance, subtitled Signe's Farewell , was released in 2010. The following night, Anderson's successor, Grace Slick made her first appearance. Slick had seen the Airplane at the Matrix in 1965, and her previous group, the Great Society, had often supported them in concert. Slick's recruitment proved pivotal to
7062-399: The birth of her first child. They still needed a lead guitarist . Kantner recruited an old friend, blues guitarist Jorma Kaukonen , who auditioned for the group and joined them in June, completing the original lineup. Originally from Washington, D.C., Kaukonen had moved to California in the early 1960s and met Kantner at Santa Clara University in 1962. Kaukonen was invited to jam with
7169-457: The charts at No. 17. Its famous cover, drawn by renowned artist and cartoonist Ron Cobb , depicts a flying machine (constructed around an idealised version of a typical Haight-Ashbury district house) soaring above the chaos of American commercial culture. Recorded over a period of more than four months, with little input from nominal producer Al Schmitt , the new album demonstrated the group's growing engagement with psychedelic rock . Where
7276-426: The country chart. The album included "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On", written in honor of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina . In August 2007, Buffett was nominated at the Country Music Association Awards for the Event of the Year Award for his song "Hey Good Lookin'" which also features Alan Jackson and George Strait . Also in August 2007, Buffett received a star on the Mohegan Sun Walk of Fame. In April 2010,
7383-650: The flow of marijuana into the United States. "Have You Seen the Saucers" marked the beginning of the science fiction themes that Kantner explored in much of his subsequent work, including Blows Against the Empire , his first solo album. Released in November 1970 and credited to "Paul Kantner/ Jefferson Starship ," this prototypical iteration of Jefferson Starship (alternatively known as the Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra ) included David Crosby and Graham Nash ; Grateful Dead members Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzmann , and Mickey Hart; session luminary Harvey Brooks ; David Freiberg; and Slick, Covington and Casady. Blows Against
7490-409: The following year as Mickey Hart 's replacement in the New Riders of the Purple Sage . Dryden was replaced by Hot Tuna drummer Joey Covington, who had already contributed additional percussion to Volunteers and performed select engagements with the Airplane as a touring second drummer in 1969. Later that year, the band was further augmented by the addition of veteran jazz violinist Papa John Creach ,
7597-810: The group defined the San Francisco Sound and was the first from the Bay Area to achieve international commercial success. They headlined the Monterey Pop Festival (1967), Woodstock (1969), Altamont Free Concert (1969), and the first Isle of Wight Festival (1968) in England. Their 1967 breakout album Surrealistic Pillow was one of the most significant recordings of the Summer of Love . Two songs from that album, " Somebody to Love " and " White Rabbit ", are among Rolling Stone ' s "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". The October 1966 to February 1970 lineup of Jefferson Airplane, consisting of Marty Balin (vocals), Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), Grace Slick (vocals, keyboards), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Casady (bass), and Spencer Dryden (drums),
7704-566: The group made its first visit to the East Coast. On January 14, alongside the Grateful Dead and Quicksilver Messenger Service , Jefferson Airplane headlined the " Human Be-In ", the famous all-day "happening" in Golden Gate Park , one of the key events leading up to the " Summer of Love ". During this period the band gained its first international recognition when rising British pop star Donovan , who saw them during his stint on
7811-537: The group's two best-known tracks, " White Rabbit " and " Somebody to Love ", the album featured "My Best Friend" by former drummer Skip Spence , Balin's driving blues-rock songs " Plastic Fantastic Lover " and "3/5 of a Mile in 10 Seconds", and the atmospheric Balin-Kantner ballad " Today ". A reminder of their earlier folk incarnation was Kaukonen's solo acoustic guitar tour de force " Embryonic Journey " (his first composition), which referenced contemporary acoustic guitar masters such as John Fahey and helped to establish
7918-528: The hottest groups in America. Grace Slick biographer Barbara Rowes called the album "a declaration of independence from the establishment [-] What Airplane originated was a romanticism for the electronic age. Unlike the highly homogenized harmonies of the Beach Boys , Airplane never strived for a synthesis of its divergent sensibilities. Through [-] each song, there remain strains of the individual styles of
8025-432: The house band at the Matrix. They hired bluegrass acoustic bassist Bob Harvey and former Marine Band drummer Jerry Peloquin. Both Kantner and Balin wanted the group to have a female singer. After hearing vocalist Signe Toly Anderson at the Drinking Gourd, Balin invited her to be the group's co-lead singer. Anderson sang with the band for a year and performed on their first album before departing in October 1966 after
8132-482: The inspiration for songs and characters in his books. In March 1978, Buffett released Son of a Son of a Sailor . In addition to the title track , it featured " Cheeseburger in Paradise ", which reached number 32 on the Hot 100. In August 1979, he released Volcano , which included " Fins " and the title track . In 1983, Buffett filed and won a lawsuit against Chi-Chi's for attempting to trademark "Margaritaville" as
8239-426: The label to reprint it. For the re-pressing, the company deleted "Runnin' Round This World" (which had appeared on early mono pressings), because executives objected to the word "trip" in the lyrics. For similar reasons, RCA Victor substituted altered versions for two other tracks: "Let Me In", changing the line "I gotta get in/you know where" to "you shut your door/now it ain't fair." In the same song, they also switched
8346-520: The lyric "Don't tell me you want money" to "Don't tell me it ain't funny". "Run Around" was also edited, changing the line "flowers that sway as you lay under me" to "flowers that sway as you stay here by me". The original pressings of the LP featuring "Runnin' 'Round This World" and the uncensored versions of "Let Me In" and "Run Around" are collectors items. Signe Anderson gave birth to her daughter in May 1966, and in October she announced her departure from
8453-478: The mistake and apologized to Buffett. In April 1998, Buffett released an album of songs from a musical theatre production he co-created based on Herman Wouk 's novel, Don't Stop the Carnival ; was certified gold. After Frank Sinatra died the following month, he attended his funeral. Buffett's song " Math Suks ", released in May 1999, was condemned by the U.S. National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and
8560-669: The musicians [creating] unusual breadth and original interplay within each structure". This phase of the Airplane's career peaked with their famous performance at the Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967. Monterey showcased leading bands from several major music "scenes" including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the United Kingdom, and the resulting TV and film coverage gave national (and international) exposure to groups that had previously had only regional fame. Two songs from
8667-405: The name of one of Kaukonen's influences, bluesmen Blind Lemon Jefferson . According to Kaukonen, "The band was coming up with all these really stupid names and I said, 'If you want something really silly, try Jefferson Airplane.'" At a music shop near the Matrix, Peloquin encountered Matthew Katz , a music manager who was searching for a band to work with. Katz had beforehand offered to manage
8774-415: The new band, and although initially reluctant to join, he was won over after playing his guitar through a tape delay device that was part of the sound system used by Ken Kesey for his Acid Test parties. Kaukonen came up with the band name "Jefferson Airplane". It was based on the nickname "Blind Thomas Jefferson Airplane," which was given to Kaukonen by his friend Richmond "Steve" Talbot, inspired by
8881-404: The phrase "up against the wall, motherfucker" in the lyrics of Kantner's "We Can Be Together", but the group managed to prevent it from being censored on the album, pointing out that RCA had already allowed the offending word to be included on the cast album of the rock musical Hair . In addition, the song had the line "in order to survive, we steal, cheat, lie, forge, fuck, hide, and deal", which
8988-476: The popular genre exemplified by acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke . The first single from the album, "My Best Friend", failed to chart, but the next two rocketed the group to prominence. Both "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" became major U.S. hits, the former reaching No. 5 and the latter No. 8 on the Billboard singles chart. By late 1967 the Airplane were national and international stars and had become one of
9095-422: The previous LP had consisted entirely of "standard-length" pop songs, Baxter's was dominated by long multi-part suites, while "A Small Package of Value Will Come To You, Shortly" was a musique concrète -style audio collage. Baxter's also marked the ascendency of Kantner and Slick as the band's chief composers and the concurrent decline of Balin's influence and involvement. The other members, gravitating toward
9202-559: The song with the Zac Brown Band , which was released on Brown's 2010 album You Get What You Give . The single was certified platinum in September 2017. In November 2011, Buffett voiced Huckleberry Finn on Mark Twain: Words & Music , a benefit for the Mark Twain Boyhood Home & Museum , which was released on Mailboat Records . In August 2013, Buffett released Songs from St. Somewhere ; many of
9309-747: The songs were recorded at Eden Rock, St Barths . In 2020, Buffett released Songs You Don't Know by Heart , a fan-curated collection of his lesser-known songs rerecorded on his collection of notable guitars. Buffett performed his final full concert at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on May 6, 2023. He made two further concert appearances, as an unannounced guest at concerts by Coral Reefer Band members, in Amagansett, New York , on June 11 and in Portsmouth, Rhode Island , on July 2, his final live performance before his death. Equal Strain on All Parts
9416-556: The stage by Hells Angels "guards" after he pulled out a revolver during the Stones' performance. Dryden was dismissed from the band in February 1970 by a unanimous vote of the other members. He felt burned out by four years on the " acid merry-go-round" and was deeply disillusioned by the events of Altamont, which, he later recalled, "did not look like a bunch of happy hippies in streaming colors. It looked more like sepia-toned Hieronymus Bosch ." He took time off before returning to music
9523-639: The title of his 1999 live album . In 2003, Buffett partnered in a partial duet with Alan Jackson for the song " It's Five O'Clock Somewhere ", which spent a then record eight weeks atop the Hot Country Songs charts. This song won the 2003 Country Music Association Award for Vocal Event of the Year, Buffett's first award in his 30-year recording career. Buffett's album License to Chill , released on July 13, 2004, sold 238,500 copies in its first week of release according to Nielsen Soundscan . With
9630-421: Was Surrealistic Pillow , its 1967 breakout album. Slick provided two songs from her previous group: her own "White Rabbit" and " Somebody to Love ", written by her brother-in-law Darby Slick . Both songs became breakout successes for Jefferson Airplane and have ever since been associated with that band. The Great Society had recorded an early version of "Somebody to Love" (under the title "Someone to Love") as
9737-474: Was Thompson, a friend and staunch supporter of the band and a former Chronicle staffer, who had convinced reviewers Ralph Gleason and John Wasserman to see the band at the Matrix. Thanks to Gleason's influence, Thompson was able to book the group for appearances at the Monterey Jazz Festival . The group's debut LP Jefferson Airplane Takes Off was released on August 15, 1966. The album
9844-661: Was also a bestselling author. His devoted fans are known as "Parrotheads". Buffett was born on December 25, 1946, in Pascagoula, Mississippi , and he spent part of his childhood in Mobile and Fairhope, Alabama . He was the son of Mary Lorraine ( née Peets) (died September 25, 2003) and James Delaney Buffett, Jr. (died May 1, 2003), who worked for the United States Army Corps of Engineers . He has two younger sisters, Laurie (born 1948) and Lucy (born 1953). As
9951-563: Was also kept on the album. The group sang the song with both lines intact during their Dick Cavett appearance, thus becoming the first known persons to utter those words on national broadcast television. In the printed lyrics that accompanied the album, the line was transcribed as "up against the wall fred". In December 1969, the Airplane played at the Altamont Free Concert at Altamont Speedway in California. Following
10058-415: Was bought out for $ 750. In December 1966, Jefferson Airplane was featured in a Newsweek article about the booming San Francisco music scene, one of the first in a welter of similar media reports that prompted a massive influx of young people to the city and contributed to the commercialization of hippie culture. Around the beginning of 1967, Bill Graham took over from Thompson as manager. In January
10165-491: Was delayed when the band ran into conflict with their label over the content of songs such as "We Can Be Together" and the planned title of the album, Volunteers of Amerika . "Volunteers of Amerika" is a corruption of the Volunteers of America charity, the term being in vogue in 1969 as an ironic expression of dissatisfaction with America; after the charity objected, the name was shortened to Volunteers . A few days after
10272-490: Was dominated by Balin, who provided most of the lead vocals and had a hand in writing all of the original material, including "It's No Secret" and "Come Up the Years." It also contained covers of " Tobacco Road ", Dino Valente 's " Let's Get Together ", and " Chauffeur Blues ", which became a signature tune for Anderson. RCA Victor initially pressed only 15,000 copies, but it sold more than 10,000 in San Francisco alone, prompting
10379-559: Was hired by David Wolkowsky , playing for drinks at the Chart Room Bar in the Pier House Motel. There, Buffett met his second wife. From a connection he made there, Buffett was hired as the first mate on the yacht of industrialist Foster Talge, heir to The Rival Company , which became his day job. In 1973, Buffett signed a recording contract with ABC/Dunhill Records , then run by Don Gant . After Jim Croce died in
10486-423: Was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Balin left the band in 1971. After 1972, Jefferson Airplane effectively split into two groups. Kaukonen and Casady moved on full-time to their own band, Hot Tuna . Slick, Kantner, and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane recruited new members and regrouped as Jefferson Starship in 1974, with Balin eventually joining them. Jefferson Airplane received
10593-452: Was not a critical or commercial success. Among his other film music credits are the theme song to the short-lived 1993 CBS television series Johnny Bago ; "Turning Around" for the 1985 film Summer Rental starring John Candy ; "I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme)" for the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High ; "Hello, Texas" for the 1980 John Travolta film Urban Cowboy ; and "If I'm Gonna Eat Somebody (It Might As Well Be You)" for
10700-428: Was not a drummer, singer-guitarist Skip Spence (who later co-founded Moby Grape ) was then invited to replace Peloquin. Spence quickly adapted and made his debut at the Matrix in September. In October 1965, after the other members decided that Bob Harvey's bass playing was not up to par, he was replaced by guitarist-bassist Jack Casady , an old friend of Kaukonen from Washington, D.C. Casady played his first gig with
10807-501: Was released on November 30, 2004, and the first edition of the book included a CD single of the song "A Salty Piece of Land." The book was a New York Times best seller soon after its release. Buffett's last title, Swine Not? , was released on May 13, 2008. Buffett wrote the soundtrack for, co-produced, and played a role in, the 2006 film Hoot , directed by Wil Shriner and based on the book by Carl Hiaasen , which focused on issues important to Buffett, such as conservation. The film
10914-596: Was released posthumously in November 2023. Buffett got the idea for the album title from his grandfather's description of a nap. Buffett was posthumously selected for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 in the musical excellence category. Buffett's music combined country, rock , folk , calypso , and pop music with coastal as well as tropical lyrical themes for a sound sometimes called "gulf and western" or tropical rock . Buffett called his music "drunken Caribbean rock 'n' roll". "It's pure escapism
11021-470: Was the first to report that the bluegrass duo Flatt and Scruggs had disbanded. Buffett signed a two-album contract with Barnaby Records . He released his first album, the country-tinged folk rock record Down to Earth , in August 1970; it sold 324 copies. The masters of his second album, High Cumberland Jubilee , recorded in 1971 in Berry Hill, Tennessee , were allegedly lost by the label before
11128-532: Was the historic dance at the Longshoremen's Hall in San Francisco on October 16, 1965, the first of many " happenings " in the Bay Area, where Gleason first saw them perform. At this concert they were supported by a local folk-rock group, the Great Society , that featured Grace Slick as lead singer, and it was here that Kantner met Slick for the first time. A few weeks later, on November 6, they appeared at
11235-470: Was their most political venture, showcasing the group's vocal opposition to the Vietnam War and documenting their reaction to the changing political atmosphere in the United States. The best-known tracks include " Volunteers ", "We Can Be Together", " Good Shepherd ", and the post-apocalyptic " Wooden Ships ", which Paul Kantner co-wrote with Crosby and Stills, and which Crosby, Stills & Nash also recorded on their debut album. RCA raised objections to
11342-479: Was unable to perform his set with the Doors and was hospitalized; keyboardist Ray Manzarek sang all the vocals. It was also during this tour that Slick and Morrison allegedly engaged in a brief sexual relationship, described in Somebody To Love?, Slick's 1998 autobiography. Jefferson Airplane's fourth LP, Crown of Creation (released in September 1968), was a commercial success, peaking at No. 6 on
11449-478: Was videotaped in color and augmented by developments in video techniques. It has been frequently re-screened and is notable for its pioneering use of the Chroma key process to simulate the Airplane's psychedelic light show. After Surrealistic Pillow , the group's music underwent a significant transformation. The band's third LP, After Bathing at Baxter's , was released in December, 1967, and eventually peaked in
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