Forbes
Jimmy Buffet Has Been Honored In The Senate
By Hugh McIntyre, Contributor
A little more than a month since his passing and the tributes to Jimmy Buffett are still pouring in. Now, he’s been honored by the U.S. Senate for his contributions to music and pop culture in general.
On Wednesday, October 4, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution meant to honor the late singer-songwriter. Buffett passed away in early September at the age of 76 after a private battle with Merkel cell cancer, a rare form of skin cancer.
The resolution, which goes by the number S.401, was introduced by Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, both from Mississippi. While Buffett may be most associated with Florida, based on his place of residence and the inspiration for many of his songs and much of his brand, he was actually born in Mississippi.
“One of the great Mississippi-born musicians, Jimmy Buffett taught a generation of Parrotheads how to pass time in Margaritaville and enjoy paradise,” Wicker stated as the resolution was being discussed, namedropping the musician’s legion of followers and one of his biggest hits.
“Jimmy was a generational talent and entrepreneur who made his native state proud,” Wicker continued, adding, “With this resolution, we raise a glass to honor the life and legacy of this musical pioneer.”
The other Senator who took part in this effort, Hyde-Smith, also spoke. “Jimmy Buffett was a true Southern storyteller who was generous enough to share his piece of paradise with the world,” she said. “In honoring him, we celebrate the man who, through his music, brought us with him on many of his adventures around the sun, from the Pascagoula Run, to the shores of paradise, and we are all the better for it. I have no doubt his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.”
Born in Pascagoula, MS, in December 1946, Buffett was raised in the Southern state. He would go on to graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1966, and that is where his career in music began.
In addition to this Senate resolution from Mississippi, a Florida lawmaker also recently introduced legislation to honor Buffett as well. Republican State Rep. Chuck Clemons filed a bill to rename State Road A1A, a coastal highway spanning from Key West to Fernandina Beach, in honor of the musician, in thanks to his continued support of Florida through his art and his business ventures.