Though I actually remember hearing Come Monday when it was on the radio, I probably didn't really turn on to Jimmy Buffett's music until my senior year of high school and my early college days. I had heard stories from another surfer about his days in Florida "driving down A-1-A in search of waves". Sometime in '76-'77 I spotted the album A-1-A at a Peaches Record and Tapes store in Virginia Beach and I immediately bought the album because I recognized the title. After giving it a listen I was hooked. Actually it was an 8-track tape that I bought and not a vinyl album but you get the idea. I played that album endlessly then immediately added Havana Daydreamin', A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean, etc. to my 8-track collection and never looked back.
Over the next 30 years those 8-tracks and vinyl albums became cassettes and CDs. Now Jimmy Buffett's music is in heavy MP3 rotation on my iPod. I've seen 75+ concerts, several times from the front rows, and have been fortunate enough to gather Jimmy's autograph about a dozen times on books, album covers and even on that original A-1-A 8-track tape. Plus I've even had a couple of chance meetings with Jimmy for a brief conversation and a photo or two.
Funny thing. I never actually considered myself to be a "Parrothead". For certain Jimmy Buffett's songs were in constant rotation in my life journey's soundtrack that evolved over the past 30 years since hearing my first Buffett songs. But so too was the music of John Prine, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and dozens of others. I'm about as far from being an introvert as one could get, but in all the concerts I've attended I never felt the urge to don a coconut bra and grass skirt. For all those lunatics and fruitcakes that do, God bless 'em. Half the fun and experience of a Jimmy Buffett concert is definitely the tailgate parties and the craziness and creativeness that goes on out there in the parking lots.
All that said, it's obvious that so many of the experiences and fun and travel that I've had over the past 3 decades did involve that Jimmy Buffett inspired element.
Hi. My name is Bob, and I'm a Parrothead.
The links below chronical some of my favorite stories, images, collections and journeys as a Parrothead.
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A Surfer Looks At 30
May 1989: A chance encounter. Meeting Jimmy Buffett on a hot afternoon in Key West.
Obtaining Conch Republic Citizenship
June 1995: Raise your left hand. Place your right hand on your beer and repeat after me. "I (state your name) .....".
Captain Tony's 85th Birthday
August 2001: Meeting Captain Tony at his 85th birthday celebration at the Conch Republic Seafood Company in Key West.
Skydiving Over The Keys with the James Bond Film Crew
Jumping out of a perfectly good working plane 10,000 feet above Sugarloaf Key.
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Housesitting in Key West
- Rough gig. 7 consecutive years of a free 2 week vacation in Key West every year.
Private home in Olde Town Key West on William Street between Caroline Street and Eaton;
pool in the backyard; a 3 block walk to Duval Street; a 3 block walk to Shrimpboat Sounds
studio. Perfect location.
- Playing softball with the Margaritaville Cafe team in a game against their arch rivals
Sloppy Joes.
- Competing in the annual Key West Battle Of The Bars.
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Swimming With The Dolphins
The Dolphin Research Center on Marathon Shores up on Grassy Key.
Ticket Buying and Concert Stories
How to get orchestra pit seats ... sometimes. How to get Jimmy Buffett to buy you a beer.
How not to tell Jimmy Buffett that he has lipstick on his face. The good, the bad and the ugly.
The Key West Tourist
Ernest Hemmingway's home. Southernmost Point. Smathers Beach. Breakfast at the Blue Heaven. The Conch Train Tour. Parasailing. Sunset Cruises. Snorkeling.
Doing The Duval Crawl
Sloppy Joes. Margaritaville Cafe. The Greene Parrot. Rumrunners. Captain Tony's Saloon.
Hog's Breath Saloon. Turtle Kraals. Hooters in Key West. And sooooooooooooooooooooo many more bars. |
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I've been fortunate enough to get Jimmy Buffett's autograph about 12 times at book signings, front row seats at his concerts and even a chance encounter with Jimmy himself on a lazy afternoon in Key West. Jimmy has signed books for me, including one personalized book .... 12 inch vinyl album covers ...... an 8-track tape ..... a Margaritaville Cafe menu ..... and even my Conch Republic Passport.
I was lucky enough to attend Captain Tony's 85th birthday celebration in 2001, meet 2 of his sons and get Captain Tony's autograph also.
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"There are no stupid questions, but there a LOT of inquisitive idiots."
NEW A fun collection of questions that I saw and borrowed (stole) from the discussion forums on at BuffettNews.com. I had fun and maybe gained more than a little introspective insight while answering these questions for myself. Here they are.
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The East Coast Surfing Championships
"Honey. This stuff isn't junk. They're all museum artifacts". Having my surf collection displayed all summer in a surf museum commemorating the 30th anniversary East Coast Surfing Championships held annually in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Costa Rica Surf Trip the Winter of 2005
Gliding through the rainforest on a line 500 meters above the ground. The volcano that wasn't there. Spending 3 hours in the police station in San Ramon (but it wasn't related to the misunderstanding at the brothel - honest). Longboard surf lessons from a beautiful girl named Sunrise.
In the Air on an American Airlines Flight out of BWI on September 11th, 2001.
I didn't learn about the terrorism of that morning until after my plane landed at DFW.
Cal Ripken's Game Record Breaking 2131 Game
I've attended hundreds of baseball games, mostly for my Baltimore Orioles. Cal Ripken's 2131 game was easily the most exciting time I ever spent at the ballpark.
Watching My Kids Grow Up
My daughter Little Miss Magic and my son the Surfer Dude.
NOTE: These directories are password protected. |
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