Steel drummer Robert Greenidge has chosen his favorite Jimmy Buffett songs and, with the help of his fellow Coral Reefers, recorded them for all parrotheads to enjoy.

A Lovely Cruise: The Steel Drum Music of Jimmy Buffett is available now!

Get it at these retailers:

• iTunes $9.99
• Amazon MP3 $9.99
• Amazon $11.69

See the track list and preview the songs below:

The 46th Annual CMA Awards aired Thursday night, and Coral Reefer Band member and singer/songwriter Mac McAnally was honored with Musician of the Year for the fifth year in a row!

Mac was up against Sam Bush (Mandolin), Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar), Dann Huff (Guitar), and Brent Mason (Guitar).

Congratulations once again to Mac for this well-deserved award!

Nominations were announced this morning for the 46th annual CMA Awards and Coral Reefer Band member Mac McAnally is once again nominated for Musician of the Year.

Mac has won the award four years in a row! Can he make it five?

His competition in the category include Sam Bush (Mandolin), Paul Franklin (Steel Guitar), Dann Huff (Guitar), and Brent Mason (Guitar).

The 46th Annual CMA Awards will be hosted for the fifth time by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood and broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Thursday, Nov. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Coral Reefer Band bass player Jim Mayer, who goes by the name Uncle Jim, was “called out” by President Obama today and Jim responded on his blog.

The president said “So just in case some of your friends or neighbors or Uncle Jim is a little stubborn, has been watching Fox News, if he thinks that, somehow I raised taxes, let’s just be clear, we’ve lowered taxes for middle class families…”

Here’s an excerpt from Uncle Jim’s blog:

Today, Uncle Jim Mayer stepped into the middle of an international media firestorm when he heard Obama falsely accuse him of being stubborn and watching Fox News.

Upon hearing the news, Uncle Jim responded: “Dear President Obama, let’s be REALLY clear, I don’t watch Fox News, I’m not stubborn, but I AM Funky as a Diaper!”

Uncle Jim further invited President Obama to join him on stage any time, anywhere he brings his anti-bullying message to children during his internationally acclaimed live shows…to set the record straight – and perhaps even sing a chorus of “IM4U.”

(hat tip Ken)

Several of you fell for it, but our article on Sunday about Saints coach Sean Payton joining Jimmy Buffett’s band this summer was indeed an April Fools joke. Or was it?

Buffett played a free show at Woldenberg Park in New Orleans on Sunday night and during “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes” Sean Payton came out on stage and played the bongos!

photo by Times Picayune

Jimmy played to the hometown crowd, sporting a “Free Sean Payton” shirt during his set. Don’t look for the coach to be Lounging at the Lagoon this summer though. Our story was a complete and total fabrication.

Thankfully for manatees, last year’s April Fools story never came true: “Buffett reverses position on saving manatees.”

Update – Here’s video: