Buffett’s Bora Bora Shows Raise $40,000 (Updated)

Jimmy Buffett has posted on his official site that his two shows in Bora Bora last week raised $40,000 for a local school:

Along with Coral Reefers Mac and Robert, Jimmy had some good times down in the [South Pacific] sunshine, playing two shows in Bora Bora in January. Both shows featured a local Tahitian girls’ choir during “One Particular Harbor,” and during Saturday’s show, local musician John Gabilou sat in to sing “Bora Bora E” with Jimmy. Enthusiastic crowds of locals and tourists alike packed the club both night, and raised over $40,000 for a new local playground and park – which will of course feature a tire swing or two!

Update – Tom Moffatt has more details about the shows and the journey leading up to them:

In the following years we often talked about returning. It finally happened … after Jimmy’s surprise concert at Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber in Waikiki, we headed for Tahiti for the show’s last weekend at Bloody Mary’s. Thanks to managers Craig Gould and Rick Guenett, and owner Dexter Hewett, all proceeds from ticket sales are being donated to build a playground for the children of Bora Bora. And thanks to another dear friend Francis Teai, the Tahitian government provided the best technical equipment to make it a truly first-class presentation. And Gabilou flew in from Papeete to provide a special introduction.

Needless to say, it was very special with Jimmy concluding his performance with a rousing One Particular Harbor.

The crowd wanted one more encore. Well, I had witnessed Jimmy and his brilliant sidemen, guitarist Mac McAnally and steel drum virtuoso Robert Greenidge, working for hours on a special Buffett arrangement of Some Enchanted Evening, and was delighted when Jimmy wisely chose this as his final offering.

Read the full blog post here.