Vince Gil and Don Henley perform onstage with The Eagles during The Classic West at Dodger Stadium on July 15, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
“Last weekend, we lost a dear friend and the world lost a musical icon — our dear friend Jimmy Buffet. Jimmy Buffet is now sailing on the cosmic ocean having that cheeseburger with Glenn and Randy,” Henley told the cheering crowd, in reference toRandy MeisnerandGlenn Frey, who died in 2023 and 2016, respectively.
“We always liked to say, we always laughed and said, ‘We survived the ’70s together.’ And the ’80s were rough, too,” Henley added. “Jimmy was one of the hardest working men I ever saw, but he made work look like play. He brought joy to everything he did — including the work. And one of his final wishes was that we keep the party going.”
(L-R) Vince Gill, Timothy B. Schmit, Don Henley, Scott F. Crago, Deacon Frey, Joe Walsh and Steuart Smith of the Eagles perform at MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 27, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Ethan Miller/Getty
Ethan Miller/Getty
“We’re going to dedicate these next two songs to him, they’re his songs that he wrote,” the Eagles singer continued, as the audience cheered, before sharing that current Eagles bassist and singer Schmit was a member of Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band “for a while” and telling the crowd that Schmit would be singing “Jimmy’s first hit record for you, from 1974.”
According to an official obituaryposted to his website, Buffettdiedat his home in Sag Harbor, New York from Merkel cell carcinoma— which he was diagnosed with four years ago. Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive skin cancer that often begins as “red, shiny nodules on the face, hands and neck,“per the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The obituary noted that Buffett kept performing despite receiving cancer treatments. His last show took place in Rhode Island in July.
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In lieu of flowers, Buffett’s family asked fans to make donations toJimmy Buffett’s Foundation Singing for Change,Brigham and Women’s Hospital,Dana Farber Cancer Instituteor theMD Anderson Cancer Center.
The singer-songwriter’s death was first announced on Sept. 2 with a statement on hissocial mediaandwebsite.
The singer faced health problems in thelast months of his life, prompting him to reschedule or call off some of his concerts. He was working on a new album,Equal Strain on All Parts,which is expected to bereleased later this year.
After news of Buffett’s death, celebrity friendsremembered him with moving tributes shared on social media.
PresidentJoe Bidenremembered Buffett as “a poet of paradise,” whileMiles Tellercalled him a “legend.”
On his Instagram Story,Elton Johnremembered Buffet as a “unique and treasured” musician.
Andy Cohenshared a picture of Buffett along with a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing, “The king of cool… paradise was wherever Jimmy Buffett was.”
Cohen also wroteon Instagramthat Buffet “was everybody’s friend, and Paradise was wherever he was. Rest in Peace sweet Jimmy. ❤️☀️🌊 🦜 🍔.”
source: people.com
