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The Associated Press has an artcile on Buffett’s expanding business empire: “No wasting away in Margaritaville: Jimmy Buffett gets bigger, more diversified with age”

Buffett, who turned 62 on Christmas Day, long ago became an icon of certain baby boomers — perhaps the least-hip demographic in the country — by offering the dream of throwing off their responsibilities for his tropical party vibe.

But in the past decade, this chronicler of Margaritaville has really cashed in on his image.

How big is Buffett? With an estimated annual income of more than $40 million, you might mistake his portfolio for that of Warren Buffett (not a relative). And he’s done it by sailing beyond most musicians’ ticket, T-shirt and poster revenue stream.

Jimmy has posted a Christmas message at Margaritaville.com from Aboard the Continental Drifter III in St Barths:

Good Morning all and Merry Christmas. I am up early waiting for sunrise and the dawn patrol to my surf beach. The line that obviously comes to me now is “these days I am up about the time I used to go to bed” … There are many thoughts that could pour out of my head this morning, considering the years I have piled up here on the planet, but I will only put down one here. 62 years ago at this moment (counting the time change from St. Barth to Pascagoula), I was 2hrs and 21 minutes old. That in itself seems miraculous. I hope you have a miraculous moment today as well. Still rockin’ in the free world.

The Chicago Sun Times has an interview with Nadirah Shakoor on her new album: “Shakoor For Sure (Arrested Development, J. Buffett)”

…Buffett and Shakoor had talked about doing a solo record for years. “I do solos in his shows and the response is cool,” she said. “I’ve built up a fan base of my own amongst his fans. Of course, he had like 300 to 400 (of his own) songs to choose from. It was overwhelming. Instead of listening to all of them, first I went to his daughter Savannah and asked what she would suggest.”

Savannah Jane Buffett, who hosts a radio show on the online station Radio Margaritaville, gave Shakoor a list of about 28 songs. That list was taken to Buffett, who refined the slate. Shakoor said, “Then I went to one of the Parrott head sites—www.buffettnews.com/ (the web’s largest Jimmy Buffett website) –to ask fans to tell me what songs meant something in their life and why.” Besides “Margaritaville,” the Buffett covers include “Creola,” “Makin’ Music For Money” the beautiful La Vie Dasante,” and “Volcano.” Buffett and Shakoor eloquently duet on Buffett’s “Son of a Son of a Sailor.”

But Shakoor also picked a soulful ringer like Art Neville’s “Why You Wanna Hurt My Heart” because the oohs-and-ahs-backgrounds reminded her of the Four Tops. “I know it sounds silly, but that’s why I chose it,” she said. “At first I didn’t realize it was an Art Neville song. (It also has been covered by Buffett). Once I found that out we added a New Orleans flavor, but Mac (McAnnally, producer) is from Muscle Shoals (Ala.) so we added that R&B flavor too.”

Nadirah Shakoor’s new album “Nod to the Storyteller is available at Amazon.com

A series welcoming musicians from the Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band featuring Woody Allen. Produced by Paul Leslie and Jeff Pike

On this episode, we caught up with an International icon. Film director, writer, actor, comedian, and playwright Woody Allen. Most known for his famed motion pictures, (Annie Hall, Manhattan, Sleeper) Woody Allen is one of the most celebrated personalities in film with fans all over the world and Golden Globe, Oscar and Academy Awards to his credit.

In this two part interview, he joins us to discuss in great detail his love for the authentic, traditional jazz of New Orleans. Woody Allen has been playing the clarinet almost every day since his youth. With the Eddy Davis New Orleans Jazz Band he performs almost every Monday night at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan on 35 East 76th Street. The band was featured in the documentary film Wild Man Blues and is about to embark on a tour of Europe.

Tune into Time After Island Time from anywhere in the world online via http://www.radio.jimmydreamz.com.

Thursday - MIDNIGHT – December 18, 2008
Saturday - 8:00 PM – December 20, 2008

Monday - 3:00 PM – December 22, 2008
Wednesday - 9:00 AM – December 24, 2008
Thursday - MIDNIGHT – December 25, 2008
Saturday - 8:00 PM – December 27, 2008
*All Broadcasts are Eastern Time*

For more information check out http://www.timeafterislandtime.blogspot.com
and http://www.jerryzigmont.com (Trombonist for the Woody Allen New Orleans Jazz Band.)

The Boston Herald reports that comic Mike O’Malley has been working with Jimmy Buffett on a new show:

O’Malley’s also working with Jimmy Buffett on a TV show based on the characters the “Margaritaville” main man sings about.

“We’ve been out to a few networks and hope to have a commitment by Christmas,” he said.

Jimmy Buffett made StubHub’s Top 10 Grossing Tours of 2008 list based on total dollar volume of tickets sold. His Year of Still Here Tour comes in a number 9 with an average ticket selling price of $121.00 for 25 tour dates.

The second part of Jimmy’s diary of his Outer Banks adventures in now available at Margaritaville.com. Jimmy talks about his van called the “Green Tomato”, surfing, and flying above the Outer Banks. There are also plenty of picture available from his adventures.

AJ (aka GumboPirate) has had a rough time lately. Both of his parents were diagnosed this year with stage IV cancer. His father passed away on November 23rd, just a few days before Thanksgiving. A benefit that was planned for his parents still went on as planned and a surprise guest “Fingers” Taylor would be performing along with the band “Fins to the Left”

Jimmy Buffett contacted AJ on Friday December 5th to send his sympathies. Here’s AJ’s account of his call with Jimmy:

As I was practicing a few of the songs this past Friday December 5th which I was going to perform with Mr. Taylor, my cell phone rang. Private number. I debated whether to answer, none of my friends have private numbers. Still, I picked it up …

“Hey, AJ. This is Jimmy Buffett. How are you doing today?”

I was in shock. It couldn’t really have been him. He then proceeded to tell me how the story of my family eventually ended up on his desk and how he came into possession of my phone number. He sent his deepest sympathies and talked about how he got through the difficult year when he lost both of his parents. We talked a little about the benefit and a little about life. We talked about my dad and how the rest of the family was doing.

He then asked me what he could do. I told him to keep doing what he has been doing–his music and tours have been a cornerstone of our family and bring us more joy than he will ever know. He then asked if it would allow him to have our family as his guests at a show on this summers tour. I told my mom and she started balling. My little siblings were jumping up and down. I told him it would be our honor. I told him how much the phone call meant to me, and thanked him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to put a smile on the face of a fan who could really use one. He asked if there was anything else that he could do, and I asked if he could leave my outgoing voicemail message (got the idea from reading the story of Keith’s Anguilla trip and phone call a year or so ago).

He did, and it now says: “Hey. You have reached AJs phone, and this is Jimmy Buffett the answering machine. Leave AJ a message and he will call you back if he is not lost in Margaritaville somewhere. Don’t forget to have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.” (listen to AJ’s voicemail message)

While I lost my dad, the past 48 hours have shown me that he is still with us. I talked to my idol, played with Fingers Taylor, and got engaged to the most wonderful woman in the world, all within a 2 day span, with my dad beside me every step of the way.

For more details: Read AJ’s post on the BN discussion forum

NADIRAH SHAKOOR AND A1A LIVE TV PERFORMANCE NOW ONLINE

On Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 Miss Nadirah Shakoor performed live on The Good Morning Atlanta Television Show on Fox 5 in Atlanta, Georgia. Her backup band consisted of Jeff Pike, Koney Ferrell, Calvin Kelly and Chaz McDonald of the band A1A. Musical director/producer was James Cobb of A1A.

You likely know Nadirah Shakoor from her 13 years with Jimmy Buffett hanging out in Margaritaville. Now, she is front and center on stage with her new album entitled “Nod to the Storyteller.”

The video is now available at: MYFOXATLANTA.COM

Click, enjoy and tell your friends! Then buy Nadirahs CD!

From HotelInteractive.com: “The OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber Celebrates Completion of Upgrades”

The final phase of the OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber’s renovation includes completion of its new pool in December 2008, which will provide guests with a tropical oasis to lounge and play. Also, the hotel is excited to welcome the highly-anticipated lifestyle restaurant and bar, Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber, slated to open in February 2009. This new 22,000 square foot dining, entertainment and retail venue will allow guests to enjoy a full menu, cocktails and lively entertainment by a variety of well-known and up-and-coming entertainers. The new Honolulu Surfing Museum and bar will serve up cool drinks while showcasing surfing collectibles and memorabilia.

Jimmy writes about his recent trip from Sag Harbor to Florida in his van called “The Green Tomato”. Some interesting stops along the way included a visit to the Wright Brothers National monument in Kill Devil Hills, lunch at “Awful Arthurs”, and catching some waves on his SUF board at the Outer Banks. Read Jimmy’s diary from the trip, and check out the exclusive photos at Margaritaville.com.

Landshark Lager is giving away a trip for two to the grand opening of Jimmy Buffett’s At The Beachcomber in Honolulu. Jimmy will perform a private show.

25 Grand Prize will be awarded: Trip for winner and one (1) guest to attend the Grand Opening of Jimmy Buffett’s at the Beachcomber restaurant in Honolulu, Hawaii. Trip consists of round-trip coach air transportation (from airport nearest winners home to Honolulu, HI), double-occupancy hotel accommodations for four (4) nights at the Ohana Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, two (2) passes to attend a private Jimmy Buffett concert, a tour of the new Jimmy Buffett Surfing Museum, ground transportation to and from airport to hotel and meals.

Anticipated travel will occur in the months of February, March or April, 2009.

For complete rules and to enter the contest visit LandsharkLager.com.