Jimmy Buffett & Jane Slagsvol: From College Love to Margaritaville Empire

A renowned musician, businessman, singer, and songwriter, Jimmy Buffett, has been named one of the wealthiest musicians in the world, with a net worth of $900 million as of 2017. Buffett is also a writer, having authored three number-one best-selling books entitled Tales from Margaritaville and Where Is Joe Merchant? The books have been on the fiction list of The New York Times Best Seller for months. 

Although Jimmy Buffett has established several businesses, he is famous for his songs that exude an island-like lifestyle. He described his music style as “drunken Caribbean rock and roll,” “Gulf and Western,” and later becoming the Key West sound.

The musical and lyrical style of Jimmy Buffett’s songs has indeed paved the way for his success. His most famous songs include “Margaritaville,” “Come Monday,” “Volcano,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” and “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes.” 

Buffett’s Musical Career

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Before becoming a famous music star, Jimmy Buffett started as a country music artist in Nashville. There, he recorded his first album, Down to Earth. During the 1970s, he was found in New Orleans, busking for audiences that were mainly tourists. In 1971, Buffett moved to Key West after Jerry Jeff Walker invited him to busk. When he moved to Key West, Buffett began to establish the easy-going persona he has right now.

His music combines pop, rock, country, and folk music with tropical vibes and themes that his fans love and enjoy. Parrotheads (or parakeets for the young ones) is the name of his fanbase because, during one of his concerts, Buffett noticed that some were wearing Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats.

On Meeting His Wife, Jane Slavsgol

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Jane Slavsgol, the gorgeous wife of none other than Jimmy Buffett, met the artist during their spring break in 1976. Jane was still studying in South Carolina when she met Buffett, and the attraction turned into a union of love the following year.

Jimmy Buffett and Jane Slavsgol were happily married until Jane realized she needed to take a break from her husband. The couple divorced in the early 1980s because of Jimmy’s constant partying antics, but they reunited in 1991. Since then, the couple has enjoyed each other’s company and has been blessed with two daughters, Savannah Jane, and Sarah Delaney, and with their adopted son, Cameron Marley. The family lives in Palm Beach, Florida, and Sag Harbor, New York.

The Success of Margaritaville

As the name implies, Jimmy Buffett’s song “Margaritaville” is named after the margarita. The music reflects the chill, relaxing, and laid-back lifestyle on an island. The fame of “Margaritaville” resulted in the birth of an empire, as the song title has been on the faces of commercial products and licenses. The brand ranges from radio stations (Radio Margaritaville) to books (Tales from Margaritaville) and even restaurants and retail shops (Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville). Add margarita mix, beach cruiser bicycles, footwear, men’s and women’s apparel, and even pie filling to the list. 

The fame of Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” and some of his famous songs has inspired Greg Garcia and Mike O’Malley to create a musical entitled Escape to Margaritaville. The musical’s plot is about a singer who works as a part-time bartender and falls in love with a tourist. The musical tour was launched in 2019.

The Author of The Jolly Mon

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The Jolly Mon is a children’s book by Jimmy Buffett and his daughter, Savannah Jane. The book comes with an original score and a narration by Jimmy and Savannah.

The Jolly Mon is about the adventure of a man named Jolly Mon on the island of Bananaland. The book talks about finding special friendships and spreading happiness through singing.

If you’re looking to spend time with family and friends these days, experience the Margaritaville vibes and hype at the Margaritaville at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, where you can sit back and enjoy the sight of Buffett’s aircraft, the Hemisphere Dancer.