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It was announced today that next weeks Rock Band DLC will include THREE JIMMY BUFFETT SONGS! For anyone unfamiliar, a popular game known as Rock Band which is an interactive musical video game is out for Playstation3, Xbox 360, and Wii and there’s a weekly downloadable content of extra songs each week for a charge. The video game is available at Amazon.com

Rock band allows users to feel as though they are playing the instuments themselves with guitar and drum controllers as well as a microphone to play to the songs.

From the official Rock Band website: “Ready to get your head spinning? This week are we really covering the spread. First we have a three pack of songs from Jimmy Buffett for $1.99 each (160 Microsoft Points) or $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points) for the pack. Jimmy Buffett rerecorded the three songs for exclusive use in Rock Band, turns out he really digs the game.”

The tracks are as follows:
“Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett (master - new original recording)
“Cheeseburger in Paradise” by Jimmy Buffett (master - new original recording)
“Volcano” by Jimmy Buffett (master - new original recording)

(thanks to litaljohn for passing that along)

RockBand Tailgate Competition: They are going to have a golf cart, with a 42″ flat screen attached, RockBand the video game is attached to the TV. They are going to be driving around the parking lot and you get to choose from 3 Jimmy Buffett songs to perform.They will be video taping all performers, the highest score of the day will be shown on the big screen during the show when Jimmy performs that song. The highest score from each leg of the tour is getting a customed made electric guitar in the shape of a shark. (thanks to dawgfan for passing that along!)

From MSNBC: “Trump Marina to become Margaritaville”

In recent years, the Trump Marina Hotel Casino has been wasting away in Atlantic City’s ultra-competitive casino market, searching for its lost shaker of salt, if you will.

Now, it’s about to be reborn with a tropical theme under new owners who are bringing singer Jimmy Buffett’s “Margaritaville” brand to the Northeast in hopes of reviving a property that had become as listless as the hero of Buffett’s hit song.

From Philly.com: Trump Marina casino being sold for $316M”

A New York gambling company that specializes in financing and developing entertainment resorts is buying Atlantic City’s Trump Marina Hotel Casino for $316 million, and will rename and rebrand it Margaritaville, Trump officials said this morning.

“When you look at the location of the Marina and the Margaritaville theme, there is nothing better than having that cove,” Juliano said. “It’s really a terrific location.”

From a press release by Trump Entertainment Resorts:

Upon successful acquisition of the property, Coastal Marina will re-brand and refurbish the property into a new destination resort under the “Margaritaville™” brand. Richard T. Fields, chairman of Coastal Marina, said: “Together with Jimmy Buffett’s team at Margaritaville™, our plans are to create an exciting new property that we believe will tap its full potential and make it one of the most successful destination gaming resorts in Atlantic City.

Ralph MacDonald: A Caribbean Soul with a New York State of Mind
Ralph MacDonald is a special guest on Time After Island Time
Produced by Paul Leslie, Jeff Pike, and Heather Dee Perry

The Legendary Ralph MacDonald checks in with Time After Island Time from New Orleans Jazz Fest to discuss his newest album, “Mixty Motions.” A producer, songwriter, percussionist, performer and Grammy-award winner, Ralph MacDonald has roots in the Caribbean but was born in New York. His songs have been covered by artists like Bill Withers, Grover Washington Jr, Roberta Flack, Harry Belafonte, Jimmy Buffett and others. The son of Calypsonian MacBeth the Great, Ralph MacDonald went onto be a member of Harry Belafonte’s band. For over 20 years he has been a member of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band as precussionist.

His newest album is a fusion of the many styles of music he embraces from Jazz, African Rhythms, Calypso, Samba and others. You will enjoy the music, and the interview is fascinating. MacDonald shares opinions, history, and his philosophy on music. Tune into Time After Island Time from anywhere in the world via Radio JimmyDreamz at
Radio.Jimmydreamz.com

Monday - 3:00 PM - May 26, 2008
Wednesdays - 9:00 AM - May 28, 2008
Thursdays - MIDNIGHT - May 29, 2008
Saturday - 8:00 PM - May 31, 2008

*All Broadcasts are Eastern Time*

TAIT info at www.timeafterislandtime.blogspot.com
Visit Ralph MacDonald on the web at RalphMacDonald.com

In it’s first week of sales Jimmy Buffett’s new book “Swine Not?” comes in at #6 on the New York Times Best Sellers List for Hardcover Fiction. It is also at #6 on the Publishers Weekly Hardcover Fiction best sellers list.

Buffett last appeared on the New York Times best sellers list back in 2004 when “A Salty Piece of Land” went to number 3. He has had three other books that have reached number 1 on the best sellers list … more information

Jimmy Buffett’s new book “Swine Not?” comes in at #17 on the USA TODAY bestseller list based on sales through May 18. The book is currently at #25 on the Amazon.com best sellers list (thanks to Nancy for passing that along to us)

Jimmy Buffett appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman last night and talked about his new book “Swine Not?”, the drug smuggling incident back in 2006 in France, and that it has been since 1996 since he last appeared on the Late Show. Interview video clip.

Jimmy perfomed the song “Volcano”, substituting “Mr. Schaefer” for “Mr. Utley” in the lyrics. Jimmy was joined by Mac McAnally, Ralph MacDonald, and the CBS Orchestra with Paul Shaffer. Volcano video clip

A web exclusive video clip of the song Bama Breeze is available at the CBS Late Show website. Jimmy performed the song after the show for the studio audience.

Sonny Landreth’s new album “From the Reach” is now available. Jimmy Buffett appears on the song called “Howlin’ Moon” and Coral Reeferette Nadirah Shakoor appears on the song “Let It Fly”. The new album is available at Amazon.com

TIME AFTER ISLAND TIME On-Demand - Produced by Paul Leslie and Jeff Pike
SPECIAL GUEST: Mr. Michael Utley of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band and Club Trini.

In the 100th episode, Mr. Utley tells us about the recent trip to Anguilla with Jimmy Buffett and company and about the new album, “Jimmy Buffett: Live in Anguilla” (CD/DVD) which he produced with Mac McAnally. You can find out more information about the new album by visiting Mailboat Records. Mr. Utley also gives us some personal insight and discusses how the shows will be changing in a variety of ways, and what the future of the band has in store for us. We also touch on the bands recent journey to Paris where we get a good view from Mr. Utley’s perspective.

The program is available on TAIT On Demand at BuffettNews.com

From Margaritaville.com: Jimmy Buffett is releasing a very special new music video DVD, “Scenes You Know By Heart,” on June 3, 2008. Pre-order today at Mailboat Records!

Jimmy’s CD,” Songs You Know By Heart,” came out in 1985, and has sold over six million copies. Jimmy chose the best live performances of those songs from his concerts all over the world for this unique DVD. Says Jimmy, “If you think about it, looking at the show on video is really the only way I get to see what you see. I have spent many enjoyable hours watching you and us have fun and have put together these scenes you know by heart.” Visit Mailboat Records for more information and a list of songs included on this special DVD.

The Times-Picayune has a review of Jimmy’s new book: “In Jimmy Buffett’s novel, a pig takes Manhattan” by Susan Larson

Jimmy Buffett — singer, songwriter, novelist, memoirist — has told his share of whoppers and fish stories in the past, but his new novel, “Swine Not?” ventures into meaty territory as a pig and her family take up residence in a posh New York hotel where no exotic pets are allowed.

“Swine Not? A Novel Pig Tale” by Jimmy BuffetThis idea comes from collaborator Helen Bransford, whose pet stars in the amusing photo illustrations that appear in the book. “Swine Not?” is a long way from Margaritaville, but it’s a nice place to visit.

You can purchase Swine Not? at Amazon.com

Jimmy Buffett appeared on Saturday Night Live 30 years ago on May 13th, 1978 and performed the song “Son of a Son of a Sailor”. The Complete Third Season of SNL was just released this week on DVD and it includes Jimmy’s performance with Richard Dreyfuss as the host.

Jimmy Buffett appearred on the Today Show this morning to talk about his new book “Swine Not?“.

A video clip of his appearance is available on MSNBC: “Jimmy Buffett pens a pig’s (funny) tale“ (Joined by friends Helen Bransford and Pinkie, “Margaritaville” songwriter Jimmy Buffett chats with TODAY’s Meredith Vieira about his new novel, “Swine Not?”)

The fun of the book extended to the photo shoot for its cover when the model pig — Forkie, who is Pinkie’s brother — took a couple of nips at Mr. Cheeseburger in Paradise. Buffett even acknowledged to Vieira that the pig was digitally inserted into the final cover art. “He got a little restless,” Buffett recalled. “He got a little camera-shy. You know, I understand that. Show business puts a lot of pressure on a pig.”

The Today Show’s website has an excerpt from the book: Jimmy Buffett’s novel asks, ‘Swine Not?’

Best-selling musician and author Jimmy Buffett crafts a colorful tale about an unusually clever pig in “Swine Not.” Here’s an excerpt.

About This Book: Sometimes you have to find the story, and sometimes the story finds you. In all my previous fiction, the stories were rooted in this nomad life I live. I converted my real life experiences into fictional fun and made up a few more tales myself — always keeping a bit of mystery as to what was based on reality and what had sprung from my imagination. Faulkner said he was a liar by profession, and he made good money at it. However, in the case of Swine Not?, the story came to me.

One day our friend Helen Bransford brought over a manuscript she had written and some illustrations that went with it. She asked me to look at them. I know the basic story, and everyone who knew Helen did, too.

Read the complete excerpt at MSNBC