Longtime Coral Reefer Ralph MacDonald died early this morning after battling lung cancer.

From his humble beginnings as the son of Caribbean immigrant parents, MacDonald followed his family’s musical heritage and, in the process, defined the the very nature of percussion in American music.

Our condolences to Ralph’s friends and family.

(H/T Bam Bam)

Update:

• Uncle Jim Mayer remembers Ralph
• Peter Mayer’s message on Facebook
• NY Daily News: “Ralph MacDonald dies at 67”

WLOX Channel 13 in Biloxi, Mississippi checked in on the progress of the Margaritaville Casino under construction on the Gulf Coast and found that work is moving at a dizzying pace.

Officials say the casino is on pace for a Memorial Weekend 2012 opening.

Watch the video report:

The New York Daily News has a short interview with Jimmy Buffett where he reveals that he’s working on his next album:

Jimmy Buffett isn’t impressed by Justin Bieber. At the Child Mind Institute Gala at Cipriani 42 on Thursday, we asked the “Margaritaville” singerwho he was listening to these days. Buffett, 64, who performed at the event, told us his son Cameron Marley had turned him on “to some people that are pretty cool,” but he was having a “senior moment” and couldn’t recall specifics. When we tried to jog his memory by suggesting Bieber’s name, Buffett shook his head. “No, it’s none of that,” he said. “It’s people that actually write songs and get onstage and sing.”

Buffett is still doing both. He told us that he’s working on his next album and has given himself a 2013 deadline to complete it.

Jimmy Buffett was in New York City on Thursday night where he performed at the Child Mind Institute charity gala, hosted by Matt Lauer, and received the 2011 Child Advocacy Award with his wife Jane.

In a video message Amy Poehler and Will Arnett toasted the Buffetts, who were receiving the Child Advocacy Award, saying they’d personally give them an award for “the best fake Southern accents for real New Yorkers, the best collection of flip flops for a CEO,” and for being “the coolest rich people on the planet.” Getting slightly more serious, they noted that “wealth is measured by kindness and generosity,” and on that score the Buffetts richly deserve the evening’s honor.

More from the Wall Street Journal:

The event helped raise over $5 million for the Child Mind Institute, which helps children with mental-health issues.

Every now and again, guests wonder how a boldfaced name got set up with a certain institution, but that wasn’t that case here. Mr. Buffett, whose hits include “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” seems to have an incredibly pleasant emotional interior and very sound mental health. Also, he’s friends with Harold S. Koplewicz, the institute’s president.

“I’ve never had a stress-related problem the beach couldn’t solve,” Mr. Buffett said, true to form.

New York City residents in particular, he has noticed, seem sort of stressed-out a lot. “They need to remember they’re on an island,” the singer said. “There are beautiful beaches just over the bridge.”

NBA player Shane Battier announced this morning on Twitter that he will join the Miami Heat now that the lockout is over. In his announcement, Battier quoted Miami Heat season ticket holder Jimmy Buffett:

The Lockout gave me a lots of time to consider what was important to me at this stage of my life and career. Over the last week, I’ve played out every scenario in my head over and over. It always came back to one thing for me: a winning role. I am appreciative of all the kind words and recruiting pitches over the last week, thank you!!

This was a exciting process and after much deliberation, I would like to quote the great poet Jimmy Buffett and take my chances “Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season”