The Wounded Warriors Project held its 4th annual Soldier Ride this past weekend, and one of our members tells us that Jimmy Buffett made an appearance at the event in Key West.

The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride is a rehabilitative cycling program for wounded warriors. For many of these combat-wounded veterans, Soldier Ride provides the first steps in the return to an active lifestyle. Margaritaville has sponsored the riders for 4 years and welcomes them once again on Saturday, January 17th.

Jimmy is a strong supporter of our troops. In January of 2008, he entertained troops aboard the USS Harry Truman. He’s also previously played a benefit concert for the Wounded Warriors Project.

(thanks to parrothead mania for passing this along)

A Fort Bragg soldier died early Monday morning after a bar fight erupted when he played Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” on the jukebox:

Sgt. 1st Class Richard Lopez, 37, of Fayetteville, N.C., died at 4:16 a.m. Monday at Denver Health Medical Center, according to Steamboat Springs Police Capt. Joel Rae.

Rae said Steamboat police have an ongoing “homicide” investigation into the incident and that the two men who allegedly assaulted Lopez are classified as “suspects.”

The dispute began, said Rae, when Lopez played the song on a jukebox in the Tap House Sports Grill late Thursday night.

Lopez’s relatives told The Denver Post that the song selected by Lopez was Buffett’s “Margaritaville.”

Rae said Lopez was obviously enjoying the song and that upset the two other patrons. The pair — whose names were not released — made disparaging remarks about the song’s selection, and the argument escalated on the street near the bar.

A fight erupted between one group, composed of Lopez and brothers Timothy and Wes Mottlau, and the second group composed of the two men originally offended by the song, said Rae.

Read the entire article here.

The AP’s Nicholas K. Geranios has an article on Jimmy Buffett’s business empire: “Jimmy Buffett, Mogul of Margaritaville”

How big is Buffett?

With an estimated annual income of more than $40 million, you might mistake his portfolio for that of Warren Buffett (not a relative). And he’s done it by sailing beyond most musicians’ ticket, T-shirt and poster revenue stream.

The title of his most popular song is showing up on restaurants, clothing, booze and casinos. Among the products he’s involved with are Landshark Lager, the Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant chains, clothing and footwear, household items and drink blenders. The Margaritaville cafe on the Las Vegas strip is said to be the top grossing restaurant in the nation.

Read the entire article here.

Just in time for Black Friday, vandals in downtown Charleston, South Carolina poured glue into the locks of several businesses, including the Margaritaville Store:

Vandals poured glue inside door locks on dozens of shops along King and Market streets, delaying the start of Black Friday bargain-hunting in the downtown corridor this morning.

A Charleston police officer estimated more than 20 merchants were affected, including Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Starbucks and Williams-Sonoma.

A group of locksmiths were scrambling to open doors for patrons waiting outside.

Though the merchants had to open stores later than planned, some said the delay likely wouldn’t affect business because shoppers usually make their way to King Street later in the day on Black Friday.

Margaritaville.com has video up from the November 8th grand opening concert at the newest Margaritaville Cafe at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.

Watch the video here.