Editorial: Jimmy Buffett used fame to spotlight causes dear to his heart

In his song "Come Monday," singer-songwriter and part-time island resident Jimmy Buffett mused, "I guess I never was meant for glitter rock 'n' roll.''

He was correct. Mr. Buffett, who died Sept. 1 of a rare skin cancer, was actually as laid-back as you could get. Palm Beachers know this because for years he lived on the island, quietly and without fanfare. It is surely no coincidence that he chose to own homes on Root Trail, probably the most Key West-like street on the island, with its beach cottages giving off a casual, relaxed vibe.

That ambience was epitomized in his most famous song, "Margaritaville," about a man who spends hours "wastin' away again" while looking for two things: A lost shaker of salt, and someone to blame for the shape he's in, before realizing it's "my own damn fault."

But the lost soul of that 1977 song was not the Mr. Buffett Palm Beachers knew. He was an environmental activist long before everyone else was, teaming up back in 1981 with former Florida Gov. Bob Graham to found the Save the Manatee Club. He also was a board member of the Everglades Foundation, putting his prestige and weight behind efforts to save Florida's unique, irreplaceable River of Grass.

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That wasn't all. Mr. Buffett supported the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory in the state's Big Bend, as well as the Quiksilver Foundation and Key West's Reef Relief organization. He also was involved in efforts such as Singing for Change and the Palm Beach Navy SEAL Evening of Tribute, entertained the troops in harm's way, and could be counted on to engineer much-needed relief after hurricanes.

Despite all this, he and his wife of 46 years, Jane, kept a low profile here even while giving back in a big way. He could be seen puttering about in town, stopping in at various shops, and living the life of a quiet family man while his kids went to school here. He treasured the moments away from the spotlight this town gave him.

“No one bothers me. It’s amazing. I’m not on television and that’s the big difference. I can walk around with shocking anonymity. People don’t know who I am,” Mr. Buffett told the Palm Beach Post in 2015.

But those who did know him, loved him.

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"Jimmy was probably the most energetic person we knew, always on stage — a storyteller as much as a singer," said Denise Hanley, a real estate agent who attended the Buffetts' wedding in Colorado. "His family and friends loved being with him and around him. What a personality!"

Indeed. From his modest upbringing on the Gulf of Mexico in Mississippi and Alabama, he parlayed his considerable talent into a worldwide lifestyle empire of music, merchandise, books and restaurants that made him a billionaire. But he stayed away from the big music industry cities like New York, Los Angeles and Nashville, preferring instead to live a life in tune with the island vibe he'd found in Key West, the easygoing way that inspired his success.

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He loved his fan base of Parrotheads and they loved him back.

In message to them after he canceled a concert in May, Mr. Buffett wrote: "You all make my life more meaningful and fulfilled than I would have ever imagined as a [tow-] headed little boy sitting on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico."

It will be hard for his family, friends and fans in these days to be without him, but we hope they find solace knowing "He lived his life like a song till the very last breath," as the post announcing his death said.

Happy trails, Jimmy. Thanks for your music, your love of our beautiful state, and for your shining example of how to live a good life, and be well-remembered when you pass from it.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Editorial: Remembering Jimmy Buffett: Superstar songwriter and regular guy