Real Kiteboarding of Cape Hatteras, NC has a writeup on Jimmy Buffett’s recent stop to the Outer Banks to do some surfing and fishing:

There’s not too many days that you get to take a session with someone as cool, laid back and talented as Jimmy Buffett. Two years ago we were lucky enough to bump into Jimmy in the British Virgin Islands and spent a day surfing head high point break waves with light offshore winds. Tons of long waves, big smiles and lifelong memories were had that day.

On Tuesday, November 10th, Jimmy Buffett caught up with us again at the new REAL Flagship Store in Cape Hatteras, NC. Jimmy was on a road trip from New York to Charleston, SC in his vegetable oil powered diesel 4×4 van nicknamed “The Green Tomato”.

Read the entire article here.

And here is a video from Real Kiteboarding that features a photo slideshow and some video of Buffett’s visit:

(hat tip to Tara for passing this along)

The Florence, AL Times Daily caught up with Mac McAnally following his CMA win on Wednesday night for Musician of the Year (pictured at right accepting the award. photo by John Russell/CMA) :

Mac McAnally still has a hard time believing that he’s the Country Music Association’s Musician of the Year.

A fixture in the Shoals music scene since the early 1970s, McAnally was gracious in victory, but first and foremost, complimentary of the other nominees, including Jerry Douglas, who McAnally called the best dobro player in the world, steel guitarist Paul Franklin and guitarists Brent Mason and Dann Huff.

“Those are all guys I get the honor of sitting and playing with,” McAnally said. “It meant a lot to be thought of in that context. It’s certainly an honor, not something I would ever expect.”

McAnally has been nominated for the award in 2007 and 2008, mostly, he said, for his work with George Strait and Jimmy Buffett.

“Buffett keeps me busy more than anything,” McAnally said. “We’re good song writing buddies.”

He said Buffett gives people the impression of an artist kicked back on the beach in flip flops, but he’s really thinking of things to do every day.

But the work is always fun, McAnally adds.

Read the rest of the article here.

Coral Reefer Band member Mac McAnally won his first CMA Award on Wednesday night for Musician of the Year.

The award was announced prior to the live airing of the CMA Awards on ABC at 7 pm CT on Wednesday night. Other nominees in the category were Jerry Douglas, Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, and Brent Mason. Mac was also nominated last year for Musician of the Year but did not win.

McAnally is currently on the country music charts with Kenny Chesney for their collaboration on Mac’s song “Down The Road”.

Congrats to Mac!

Jimmy Buffett’s Landshark Lager is giving away a trip for two to the grand opening of Jimmy Buffett’s At The Beachcomber in Honolulu, Hawaii, where Jimmy will play a private show!

Winners will receive airfare for two, four night at the Ohana Waikki Beachcomber Hotel, and tickets to the private Buffett concert. Exact date of the show is not yet known, but it is expected to be in February, March, or April 2009. You may enter once a week… See the official rules here. Sweepstakes ends January 31st, 2009.

Click here to enter!

(hat tip to mcloughl for passing this along!)

Update – Several readers have pointed out that California residents are ineligible. No word on why Landshark is excluding Californians.

XM Satellite Radio announced a revamped lineup today after merging recently with Sirius, and one of the Sirius channels that is now available on XM is Jimmy Buffett’s Radio Margaritaville! Starting today, XM subscribers can hear Radio Margaritaville on channel 55. Sirius subscribers can still hear RM on channel 31.

View the new channel lineup for XM here.

Radio Margaritaville joined Sirius in 2005 after several years of being offered solely online. It features music by Jimmy Buffett, James Taylor, Little Feat, Bob Marley, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, The Beach Boys, Harry Belafonte, The Eagles and many more.

Get XM or Sirius today!