The man who introduced Jimmy Buffett to Key West has passed away after a battle with throat cancer. Jerry Jeff Walker, most famous for the song “Mr. Bojangles,” was 78.

The Margaritaville Key West website details Buffett and Walker’s venture to Key West:

Jimmy Buffett arrived in Key West in November 1971 with singer and songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker (already famous for “Mr. Bojangles”) and Teresa “Murphy” Clark. Jerry Jeff, Murphy and her young son, Justin, had offered Jimmy refuge in their open-air Coconut Grove home after Jimmy fled Nashville’s weather and business climate.

His marriage to his hometown sweetheart had ended, and he’d failed to find many open doors in the Music City. The record industry didn’t understand the young man’s style, motivation or lyrics. Murphy and Jerry Jeff wanted to deliver some happiness to dispel Jimmy’s gloom and sense of loss. After a week or two of Florida-orientation, they piled into “Flying Lady,” Jerry Jeff’s elegant silver and maroon ’47 Packard sedan, for a drive southward. Jimmy Buffett had never before seen the Florida Keys. Key West was an outpost over 100 miles from our mainland – closer to Cuba than to Florida – a place of fascinating history and charm, dependent upon the ocean for much of its income yet subject to the whims of weather and the perils of change. Jimmy’s discovery of the island meant everything to the man.

It changed his life and countless other lives in turn. As time passes, that quick November 1971 jaunt to the Keys means more and more to the island, the state of Florida, and the national culture.

Jimmy posted a tribute on social media:

In such a hurtful moment, I have to say, that I am SO happy that he drove me to Key West. That lanky frame, cowboy hat, that energy, voice, those songs, wry wit and wonderful laugh will be with me forever. Thank you Jerry Jeff. Love to Susan, Jessie and Django. pic.twitter.com/cEwki8sFTn

— Jimmy Buffett (@jimmybuffett) October 24, 2020

So long Mr. Bo Jangles pic.twitter.com/bd6dLbTdt5

— Jimmy Buffett (@jimmybuffett) October 24, 2020

Read more about Jerry Jeff Walker’s life here.

After the success of the video series ‘Songs You Don’t Know By Heart,’ where Buffett was interviewed by his daughter Delaney and performed several of his lesser known songs as requested by parrotheads, Jimmy went into the studio and recorded acoustic versions of the songs for an album that will be released on November 20th, 2020.

Track listing:

1. I Have Found Me a Home
2. Woman Goin’ Crazy on Caroline Street
3. The Captain and the Kid
4. Delaney Talks to Statues
5. Twelve Volt Man
6. Peanut Butter Conspiracy
7. Something So Feminine About a Mandolin
8. Love in the Library
9. Chanson Pour Les Petits Enfants
10. The Night I Painted the Sky
11. Cowboy in the Jungle
12. Little Miss Magic
13. Tin Cup Chalice
14. Tonight I Just Need My Guitar
15. Death of an Unpopular Poet

You can preview the songs here.

Pre-order the album now at Amazon or Mailboat Records.

Watch Jimmy discuss the album below:

JB had a few things to say on the subject and tell you about the new acoustic album! https://t.co/NALm0EstFa#SongsYouDONTKnowByHeart pic.twitter.com/dsp6UGDzt1

— Jimmy Buffett (@jimmybuffett) October 23, 2020

Jimmy Buffett’s new album that was released in May is now available on vinyl in a two-LP set that includes a collectible book with exclusive content like lyrics, special photos from Jimmy’s collection, his stories behind the songs and more.

Get the vinyl now at Amazon.

Jimmy Buffett surprised the US Naval Academy sailing team with an impromptu concert from his boat to theirs on Friday.

The U.S. Naval Academy sailing team got quite the surprise Friday afternoon!

Singer Jimmy Buffett stopped by the team’s practice for an impromptu mini-concert!

Navy Sailing posted on Facebook Friday:

“Fins to the left, fins to the right! Guess who popped in for practice this week!? Huge thanks to Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers for an impromptu mini-concert as we started practice. #GONAVY #BeatArmy.”

Jimmy has been in the Annapolis, Maryland area for at least a few days now. He recorded a couple of videos at the Thomas Point Shoal Light that will be released in the future. Read more here.

The lone tour dates remaining on Jimmy Buffett’s 2020 schedule have been postponed until 2021. As of now, the next Buffett show scheduled is in April 2021.

The following shows set for December 2020 now have these new dates:

Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena – December 4, 2021
Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena – December 7, 2021
Orlando, FL – Amway Center – December 11, 2021

Fans with tickets to the rescheduled dates are encouraged to hold on to their tickets, as they will be honored at the rescheduled dates in 2021.

If you are a ticket holder and cannot make the new date, you will be contacted directly via email with refund options for your show. For more details, please visit www.livenation.com/refund.

View the 2021 Slack Tide Tour schedule as it currently stands here.