Last week New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton was suspended for all of the 2012 season for his complicity in the Saints bounty program that paid players money for knocking opposing players out of games. Faced with an entire year of no coaching, and forfeiture of $5.8 million in salary, Payton says he’ll join his friend Jimmy Buffett’s band for his Lounging at the Lagoon Tour, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton just over a week ago but Payton is wasting no time in making plans for his year off. Starting in June, he’ll hit the road with Jimmy Buffett for the Margaritaville crooner’s Lounging at the Lagoon 2012 Tour.

Payton is an “awesome guitar player” says Buffett. “Coach has rocked with me a few times at various places in New Orleans over the years and I’m really excited to have him along on the tour.”

The Saints coach is no stranger to the music scene. After a brief stint playing semi-pro football in the early 80’s, Payton tried his luck at a career in music. His band, coincidentally named The Bounty Hunters, toured for two years from 1985-1987 with Payton on lead guitar and vocals. After minimal success, Payton decided his playing career, both musically and athletically, was over and took a job as offensive assistant coach at San Diego State University in 1988.

“I was very disappointed in the commissioner’s decision, but I thought why not make the best of a bad situation and do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” said Payton. “When Jimmy asked me to join the band this summer, I didn’t even hesitate. It’s such an amazing opportunity. To get to play in front of tens of thousands of music lovers is what I wanted to do all those years ago. Plus, I could use the cash.”

On January 16, 2012 Jimmy Buffett sang in tribute to the life of composer, percussionist, producer and friend, Ralph MacDonald. This tribute to Ralph was held at the Palace Theater in Stamford Connecticut where Ralph lived from 1979 until his untimely passing on December 18, 2011.

Watch below as Jimmy sings “King of Somewhere Hot”:

American Songwriter has an interesting interview with Coral Reefer and reining CMA Musician of the Year Mac McAnally:

You’re known as a great storyteller, both lyrically and in your live show. Was there any particular writer or performer coming up that inspired you to be the storyteller you’re known as today?

I’m sure that I was a sponge and was influenced by almost everything I heard musically. But the storytelling probably comes from two places. First the church. My mother was the piano player at church when I was young and we were always going to Baptist “association,” which was like a preaching competition with endless sermons over a two or three day period. I was very young and probably would have chosen to be elsewhere but I did take note of what did and did not work for the men, and a woman or two, in the pulpit. Secondly and probably a more direct influence were the old guys who sat on the “gossip bench” at the courthouse downtown and whittled and told stories. I was told not to hang around these guys and sat at their feet and listened to them for a big chunk of my early time. The new live CD is a response to years of being asked to record the stories that accompany the songs.

You’ve had cuts by Alabama, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Buffett and many others. Do you have a song that was particularly hard to let go of?

When I wrote “Back Where I Come From” I thought that it was a hit, but also that it said something that I personally wanted to be the first to say. As a publisher I knew I was devaluing the copyright by singing it myself instead of passing it onto better and bigger singers, but I did it anyway. One of many of my classically bad business choices, but thankfully Kenny Chesney was kind enough to bail me out and cut it again. Thanks again KC.

Read the full interview here.

And be sure to pick up Mac’s new album Live in Muscle Shoals.

A memorial service was held Thursday in Harlem for Ralph MacDonald, who died earlier this week at the age of 67.

Roberta Flack sang one of his final compositions, thanking him for writing hits for her like “Where is the Love.”

MacDonald died Sunday of lung cancer at age 67. He was living in Stamford, Conn.

“The song is over, but the melody lingers on,” the Rev. Calvin Butts said during the eulogy.

Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson and Paul Shaffer of David Letterman’s “Late Show” band also attended the music-filled memorial for the eight-time Grammy nominee.

“Ralph was a very important part of my life,” Flack said before singing to some 300 mourners in front of his closed casket.

When Flack began touring internationally, MacDonald stepped in as her musical director.

“He was the kind of musician who could play and understand any kind of music,” she said. “There were no limits.”

She emotionally recited the words to one of his last compositions, “We Are a Family,” before singing the song.

“We are proud, and we are free,” she sang. “Yes, we are a family.”

When friend and singer Dennis Collins performed “My Way” in MacDonald’s honor, he drew hearty laughter for changing the line about biting off more than you can chew to, “He pissed off more than just a few.”

Born in Harlem to Trinidadian parents, MacDonald played conga drums as a boy in the 14-piece band led by his father, Patrick MacDonald, aka calypso performer Macbeth The Great.

For a decade, beginning at age 17, he played percussion for Harry Belafonte.

In 1971, he had his breakthrough as a songwriter when Flack and Donny Hathaway scored with “Where is the Love,” co-written with William Salter.

Read more from this article here, and read the New York Times obituary here.

(H/T Phyllis)

Radio Margaritaville Remembers the Legendary Ralph MacDonald:

Remember with us some of Ralph’s great music, and a full life of fun and camaraderie, on this tribute program with band-mate Jim Mayer and Radio Margaritaville’s Steve Huntington.

Broadcast Schedule:

• Thursday: 6pm
• Saturday: 6am
• Sunday: 11pm

Listen at RadioMargaritaville.com or on Sirius/XM.

A memorial service was held for Ralph this morning in New York. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Bennett Cancer Center at Stamford Hospital to assist those who need extra support in fighting their battle with cancer. Ralph has always been a big proponent of helping the youth in Harlem. The Buster Bryant Youth organization operated by the Dunlevy Milbank Center of the Children’s Aid Society was one of his favorite charities, and his dedication even garnered him an Award. Please help continue his legacy by considering a donation to this organization as well. Details will be forthcoming on exactly how to donate.