AL.com has a great read on the destruction of a building in Mobile that was at one time a music studio where Buffett recorded some of his earliest stuff.

Jimmy Buffett is best known for his easy-going Key West lifestyle, but his musical roots began in Mobile inside a second-floor recording studio devastated by a Christmas Day tornado.

The studio’s building was torn down on Thursday, and rubble is being cleared from what had long been Cantrell’s photography studio at 1916 Airport Blvd., in an area referred to as “The Loop” where Airport, Government Street and Dauphin Island Parkway converge.

While it has not been occupied by a sound studio for decades, the location had become a popular sight-seeing stop for devoted “Parrot heads,” or loyalists to Buffett’s music. It was inside the studio where Buffett recorded his first songs.

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“I could run (the studio) from 11 to 2 (a.m.) and during that three-hour period, we’d demo 10 songs,” Brown said. “That is unheard of today. I only had about seven of those songs ready to go and Jimmy was, by then, a good friend. I said, ‘hey, do you want to record some of yours?’ Jimmy said, ‘yeah, I want to do that.'”

Buffett, in the late 60s, was performing at the Admiral’s Corner at the Admiral Semmes Hotel in downtown Mobile.

“They were paying him $10 a night and he could put out a tip jar,” Brown said. “He wanted to get back (to work) so he didn’t lose that job.”

Said Thompson: “He was just one man with a guitar and a stool. He had not gotten the persona as the guy from Key West, yet.”

It was at Product Sound Studio where Buffett recorded two songs, “Don’t Bring Me Candy” and “Abandon On Tuesday.” Those two songs were released in 1970, but were not part of Buffett’s debut album, “Down to Earth.”

Be sure to read the full article here.

Jimmy Buffett confirmed another date for the Songs From St. Somewhere Tour today.

Indianapolis, IN
Thursday, June 27th
Klipsch Music Center

Tickets go on sale Saturday, March 16th through Ticketmaster.

We’re expecting a few more tour dates so stay tuned!

Soon you’ll be able to stay at Margaritaville next time you’re in St. Thomas, USVI:

The former Renaissance Grand Beach Resort property has been boarded up for years, but Wyndham announced this week that it will soon be given new life as a Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville resort.

Wyndham made the announcement at its quarterly earnings call Wednesday.

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Holmes said Wyndham is excited about partnering with Buffett as a way to grow the timeshare division of the company.

This won’t be the only new Margaritaville resort coming:

We’re very excited to announce that Margaritaville has entered into a partnership with Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world’s largest vacation ownership company, to create Margaritaville Vacation Club by Wyndham. Wyndham will develop Margaritaville resorts, starting with the conversion of a 34-acre property in St. Thomas, slated to begin later this year. Stay tuned for updates!

What locale would you like to see a Margaritaville resort?

(hat tip Michael B)

Jimmy Buffett has expanded his fleet of airplanes, adding a 2012 Pilatus PC-12 with the tail number N920JB.

The PC-12 is a Swiss-built single engine turboprop that can seat 8-9 people, cruise at 280 knots, and fly 1,573 nautical miles at 30,000 ft.

The airplane allows Buffett to fly shorter trips that wouldn’t be as practical in the Falcon 900, such as West Palm Beach to Orlando.

The PC-12 can also takeoff and land on much shorter runways, needing only 2,650 ft for takeoff at max weight.

Check out Jimmy’s other airplanes here.

For more information on the PC-12, visit www.pilatus-aircraft.com

Jimmy Buffett’s latest Margaritaville restaurant opens at 8:30 tonight in Cincinnati! The opening coincides with the grand opening of the new Horseshoe Casino, in which Margaritaville resides.

The casino, along with Margaritaville, held a dry run last week, a media event on Saturday, and a parrothead pre-opening party on Sunday.

Cincinnati.com has a good review of the atmosphere, food, and drinks: First Taste: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

The 14,000 sq. ft. restaurant is located adjacent to the Horseshoe’s main entrance on Broadway and features seating for approximately 400. An open-air dining patio connects to the casino’s urban plaza and event lawn. The restaurant also offers a Margaritaville retail store, featuring unique Margaritaville merchandise, music and island apparel.