Book details

  • Genre:biography & autobiography
  • Sub-genre:Historical
  • Language:English
  • Series Title:The Troubadour's Tour
  • Series Number:1
  • Pages:840
  • Paperback ISBN:9798991718509

The Troubadour's Tour

Jimmy Buffett’s Favorite Places on the Island He Called Home

By J.P. "Gator" Wilson

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Overview

Jimmy Buffett, singer, songwriter, author, sailor, and entrepreneur died at the age of 76 at his home in Sag Harbor, New York, on September 1, 2023. Buffett died from Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer. How did Jimmy want to be remembered? In his own words: "He had a good time and made a lot of people happy. Yeah, that would be good."

This book is the ultimate self-guided tribute tour to Jimmy Buffett, including all of his favorite bars and restaurants, places he played his music, and locations where Buffett lived during his Key West years (maps included). Jump on a red rental bicycle (Buffett's favorite form of transportation), and come see the first Florida Keys bar that Jimmy ever had a drink in, (November 1971).

Travel through time to his last Keys performance (February 2023), when he launched his Second Wind Tour with four unforgettable shows on what most friends claimed was his favorite island. Read about the history and the changing society of the island during Jimmy's early years. Find out what real life events inspired Buffett to write the lyrics for his songs.

Meet some of Jimmy's friends, including the infamous "Club Mandible" and fun facts about their escapades. Hear stories about Key West that would change Buffett forever, and that he, in turn, would change for all time.

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Description

Real Parrot Head fans can find over 800 pages and 750 maps and photographs (some never seen by the general public), of the singer/songwriter and his closest friends in the Southernmost City.

Follow the author through the early 70s and his personal relationships with Jimmy and the gang known as the infamous “Club Mandible,” where some had already achieved celebrity status, and others, including Buffett, were not yet well-known writers, musicians, film directors, or poets.

Explore Jimmy’s entire collection of aircraft, including his first seaplane, his flying shenanigans, an almost fatal crash and how he had departure procedures named after himself at an international airport. If you love yachting and boats, observe all of Jimmy’s collections of sail and power vessels through the years.

Buffett considered himself a pirate. Set sail and learn about the Key’s most notorious buccaneers, Jimmy’s “cosmic compass” and Hunter S. Thompson’s “Great Magnet” that helped navigate the gang through their islands of adventure. Depart from Key West, and explore the coastline of the southern states, home to Jimmy, his family and friends

Follow the Fly fishing Mayor of Key West to some of the “Troubadour of Trouble’s” favorite Caribbean ports, bars, hotels, and hidden spots, where he would escape to surf, paddle, dive, and fish. Travel to some of the remote jungles and island destinations around the world where distant fishing lodges existed that Jimmy would spend time at, including one particular harbor.

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About The Author

All works of J.P.”Gator” Wilson are written to benefit Nonprofit organizations. Total proceeds, less production and distribution costs, are received by various 501(c)3 charities with never any royalties deducted by the author. This book's proceeds are split 50-50 between Singing for Change and Save the Manatees. Both charities support causes Jimmy Buffett was passionate about. Because of this, all your purchases may be 50% tax deductible. Consult your tax advisor.

Wilson is an avid fly fisherman, a multiple world record holder and a writer. He has published several magazine articles both locally and internationally, and is working on an autobiography and a historical coffee table edition about the Hillsborough River and Juan Ponce de Leon's exploration along the Florida Coast. He has spent considerable time on the water, whether it's scuba diving, sitting on his dock under the Key Largo stars, or surfing on his home beach in Costa Rica.

Jeff ran his company, Blue Dolphin Yacht Charters, throughout the Bahamas and is an experienced sailor. A true outdoorsman, he is also a bow hunter and white water guide.

Gator is an avid explorer, typically traveling with his daughter or his son traversing exotic places around the world.

His extensive and impressive bucket list includes all seven continents, the seven seas, and both the seven natural and man-made "Wonders of the World." Gator has hiked to the planet's seven most beautiful waterfalls, including Victoria (Zimbabwe), Angel (Venezuela), and Iguazu (Argentina/Brazil). The world's most beautiful islands have seen his footprints.

Wilson has flown within sight of, or climbed on, the infamous Seven Summits, which is known as the "Explorers Grand Slam,'' and although he has not yet reached the summit of those, he has topped Huayna Picchu (Peru), Isla del Sol (Bolivia), Trolltunga, Preikestolen, Kjeragbolten (Norway), Mount Sinai (Egypt), and many other famous mountains. He has traveled to both the Arctic and Antarctic Circles (exclusive of the poles).

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