Have You Ever Met Jimmy?

[wannabejane]

We met Jimmy & Jane Buffett while they were biking on Shelter Island and getting on the "Southern Cross" (no joke) Ferry leaving Shelter Island and we happened to be the last car on. Then they let walk-ons and people with bikes board last. Jimmy was just standing against the ferry when I got out of car and approached him with a fins baseball cap. My first words were "I have been waiting a very long time to meet you". He looked down at the hat I was holding and said "How the hell did you recognize me"? (He had on a bike helmet & sunglasses on)....... We both laughed a little and then I pointed to the back of my car with my Margaritaville License plate frame and Air Margaritaville sticker. Jimmy then asked who was in the car, and we walked over and I introduced him to my wife, and two daughters. He reached in the window and shook everyones hand and said "Hi, I'm Jimmy"........ It was so cool as we were the only ones who realized who it was and no one else came over. I had 7 minutes to hang with him!!!!!!!!! (thats how long the ferry ride over to North Haven is) I said to him how great Radio Margaritaville is and then he interupted me and said "Well then you are just the person I would like to ask a question to." I said go right ahead, and then he asked me if I had to, how would I feel about due to something about broad band paying a small subscription fee to get Radio Margaritaville? I told him I would not be too thrilled about the idea but would probably do it because of the concerts............ He then asked me where I lived and after I told him, he said "why the hell are you leaving Shelter Island on such a beautiful day?" I said I had some things to due and then he offered autographs to me, and also signed some for the kids. I still have the marker he used with his teeth marks on the cap....... Then I asked if we can take pictures with him, he said sure, so I gave Jane Buffett my camera and showed her how it worked....... She asked Jimmy to take his bike helmet off and he said no.................. I told him if you ever see a 19' Grady White buzz past your house, thats me................ He laughed and then we said good-bye and thanked him........ I still see him from time to time outside his house, and he waves back after we buzz his dock........... (I don't have the balls yet to actually stop)............... This story is 100% true and not fabricated at all............. Our experience of meeting him was that he was and is a great guy.................

That is just about the best "meeting Jimmy" story I have ever heard! If that had happened to me I would probably STILL not be able to sleep wanting to relive every moment. My question for you is ...what is Jane Buffett like? Is she as beautiful as her pictures? (specially at her age!) I am as fascinated with "the woman behind the man "as the man himself. Thanks for any info!

[IsleReef]

Jane Buffett is as pretty as you see in the videos and classy as well........ She stepped back and let Jimmy or me have the moment...........

[LesPaul30]

Met him in Pittsburgh last summer. The hotel where I stay every two weeks or so for work tipped me off that he and the band stay there every year when they are in town and hang in the bar/resturaunt before one of the shows. Pretty much saw everyone from Nadira to Mac. He's got a pretty big group he travels with.

So the day before the show, I am telling the front desk that the band was indeed there, but JB himself was in another hotel so I probably won't get a chance to meet him, but appreciated letting me know everything.

As I turn around to enter the bar behind me, two guys are walking in, and wouldn't you know it, it was him. I recall saying to myself that, well, it was now or never to get a chance to meet him, so I stepped to the bar, grabbed a beer (where the bartender who knew me knew exactly what was going on and was trying to get my attention). I turned, introduced myself, and chatted for a few minutes about the Hurricanes in S.Fl and someother things (being from Lauderdale I figured this was a decent way in since his house was probably getting hit as well). Aparently, his whole group lives there as well. I didn't want to bother him, so I said it was great meeting him, but asked if he'll be around later in the night. I had brought my copy of WIJM with me and had it up stairs. I always wanted to get it signed, so I asked him if he would do it later, and he said sure.

Sure enough, later in the evening, and a few too many beers, a buddy shows up to hang out who lived in Pitt, and Jimmy came back to the bar area. I called his name, he strolls over and asks if I brought the book. He autographs it, "To Ian, Best Wishes, JB". Awesome.

Real cool guy.

I can die happy now.

[IsleReef]

Met him in Pittsburgh last summer. The hotel where I stay every two weeks or so for work tipped me off that he and the band stay there every year when they are in town and hang in the bar/resturaunt before one of the shows. Pretty much saw everyone from Nadira to Mac. He's got a pretty big group he travels with.

So the day before the show, I am telling the front desk that the band was indeed there, but JB himself was in another hotel so I probably won't get a chance to meet him, but appreciated letting me know everything.

As I turn around to enter the bar behind me, two guys are walking in, and wouldn't you know it, it was him. I recall saying to myself that, well, it was now or never to get a chance to meet him, so I stepped to the bar, grabbed a beer (where the bartender who knew me knew exactly what was going on and was trying to get my attention). I turned, introduced myself, and chatted for a few minutes about the Hurricanes in S.Fl and someother things (being from Lauderdale I figured this was a decent way in since his house was probably getting hit as well). Aparently, his whole group lives there as well. I didn't want to bother him, so I said it was great meeting him, but asked if he'll be around later in the night. I had brought my copy of WIJM with me and had it up stairs. I always wanted to get it signed, so I asked him if he would do it later, and he said sure.

Sure enough, later in the evening, and a few too many beers, a buddy shows up to hang out who lived in Pitt, and Jimmy came back to the bar area. I called his name, he strolls over and asks if I brought the book. He autographs it, "To Ian, Best Wishes, JB". Awesome.

Real cool guy.

I can die happy now.

Not a bad meeting at all.............. One of our autographs read "To Vinnie, Carla & The Kids, Fins Up. Jimmy Buffett" That one I have framed in my music studio.............. No touching, just looking...........

[Joni Tyring]

No I haven't but I would like to

[chalksoperations]

First time I met him was back in '89. I was deployed aboard the USS America, we were on our way from the Caribbean up to the North Atlantic. He came aboard, did a small show in the hangar deck and spent some time with the crew then departed on his F-14 cat shot he wrote about.
Years later, when I started with Chalks, I figured it was a matter if time before he came around. First time he brought one of his planes here to Watson Island, I brought the cruise book with his pic in it. He sat at my desk and signed it and remarked how he has signed many, many things - but never a cruise book. We had the Tomcat painted with "Margaritaville" under the RIO side if the canopy, a picture he got a copy of and he still has in his office.
Over the years, he has come in and out of here a number of times. Sometimes with family, sometimes alone or with Mike or his PA. Last time he brought the Albatross here, it spent the good part of 24 hours here on account of inop gear indication. One of his pilots used to work here, as others have in the past.

And with the Heat doing so well, it's been a busy winter.

[NorCalFan]

Yes! We've met him a few times. First at a meet and greet in Irvine a few years ago. Then we watched him do his Radio Margaritaville pre-concert interview back stage at San Jose last year, we said hi to each other. The last time was at rehearsal in Las Vegas last year. We were the only two people (non-crew) there. Check out the pics from that day, too bad we're not in any of them. http://www.ralphmacdonald.com/GAL_04_vegas1.htm . We watched for the last five songs and then meet him back stage afterwards and later that night we went to Margaritaville and had dinner with the band and crew. The best group of people we've ever met. Jimmy didn't go with us though, he was at Margaritaville the night before so he passed on dinner. Every time we meet him was GREAT!

[RAGTOPMAN]

Heres my story short and sweet

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... highlight=

[Tiki Bar]

I would never want to intrude and tie up to his dock uninvited (Yes I want to, but I won't)

You will when I come out to visit... dig? Either that, or do a sharp 90 at about 30 mph right in front of it when I'm sitting on the side of your boat - I'll count on getting rescued, and hopefully mouth to mouth, by Jimmy!

[IsleReef]

I would never want to intrude and tie up to his dock uninvited (Yes I want to, but I won't)

You will when I come out to visit... dig? Either that, or do a sharp 90 at about 30 mph right in front of it when I'm sitting on the side of your boat - I'll count on getting rescued, and hopefully mouth to mouth, by Jimmy!

I'll tie up if I have a BN Moderator with me.............

[Tiki Bar]

I would never want to intrude and tie up to his dock uninvited (Yes I want to, but I won't)

You will when I come out to visit... dig? Either that, or do a sharp 90 at about 30 mph right in front of it when I'm sitting on the side of your boat - I'll count on getting rescued, and hopefully mouth to mouth, by Jimmy!

I'll tie up if I have a BN Moderator with me.............

[balcony girls]

<--------------- that would be a YES !



we have been lucky enough to meet ( not meat ) Jimmy several times. . .two of the stories are here in BN . . .somewhere ? ? . . .and I don/t yet know how to make them "reappear " . .

but here's a great Jimmy and Jane story . .

after the Coastal Confessions show in New Orleans last Dec. Jimmy, Jane and lots of their friends, etc. came to Margaritaville after the show. . Jimmy and Jane were in my view as they sat in the private upper area . i watched them for several minutes and was absolutely "taken" by the way they interacted with each other . .you would have thought they were newlyweds . .Jane was standing next to Jimmy as he sat on a stool, and I don't think she ever took her hand off his leg . . .with all the distraction going on, they were totally fixed into each other's eyes. . .Jimmy loves his Jane and she in no way was putting on an act . .

after all these years, it is truly L O V E . . . .I never got to see any kissin' stuff, but they sure looked "ready" ! ! !

and she is drop dead gorgeous, and very petite . .

ps. Jimmy did spot me and gave us what we call " the body wave " . . . leaning forward, pointing and then a great big side-to-side wave. . .

W O W . . .no wonder we're nuts for him . .

[Cubbie Bear]

I met Jane and Savannah in the original Margaritaville at Turtle Krawl, Key West in the mid 80's. It was the time period when their marriage was not the best. Jane walked in and said "Give me some of his money" and then wrote out a personal check for a huge amount ($3000 I think) She was polite said Hi and stuff, but really wasn't interested in talking to a fan of Jimmy's at the time

[TLM]

Darn, I havent met him...and im not sure what i would say if i did.
i may be too stunned to speak.
BUT-- my brother has a buddy who works down the cape (cape cod...just to be clear) and he was working on a house, and right next door was jimmys house. he said he was having a party or something, cuz there was quite a few people...then he said:
"for an older guy, hes pretty loud.." cuz he was using power tools and could hear the commotion over them...
he offered to show me, but i dont want to know...that may sound weird, but i just wouldnt want to intrude onto his turf...
(this was last summer by the way)
but if i see him at the dunkin donuts, i will surely manage to wave hello.
beyond that, may be a stretch.

[SchoolGirlHeart]

The Saturday after the Friday Fenway show, I walked down Boylston Street to see my grandfather's old office building, where I used to visit as a kid. Then I walked down to the Boston Public Gardens, intending to sit in the sunshine and read for a while. And wouldn't you know who was walking down the sidewalk, also headed for a walk in the park....

With a ball cap and sunglasses on, and without Charleston along, nobody recognized him! We talked baseball for a minute. I asked him if it was as absolutely cool as it seemed for a baseball fan to play a show in Fenway Park. His face lit up like a kid's on Christmas morning as he said, "It was UNBELIEVABLE!" The he went one way and I went the other as he continued his walk.


Ironically, that isn't my burning memory from that day.... The date was September 11, 2004.... On the other side of the Public Gardens, dignitaries and families were dedicating a memorial to the Massachusetts 9/11 casualties... My burning memory from that day is watching a young boy about 12 or 13 whose last name on his nametag was followed by "Jr" make a rubbing of a particular name off the granite memorial.... a name followed by "Sr".... his dad..... Meeting Jimmy Buffett, cool as that was, seemed far less important only ten minutes later....

[carolinagirl]

I met Jane and Savannah in the original Margaritaville at Turtle Krawl, Key West in the mid 80's. It was the time period when their marriage was not the best. Jane walked in and said "Give me some of his money" and then wrote out a personal check for a huge amount ($3000 I think) She was polite said Hi and stuff, but really wasn't interested in talking to a fan of Jimmy's at the time

[AlbatrossFlyer]

We met Jimmy & Jane Buffett while they were biking on Shelter Island and getting on the "Southern Cross" (no joke) Ferry leaving Shelter Island and we happened to be the last car on. Then they let walk-ons and people with bikes board last. Jimmy was just standing against the ferry when I got out of car and approached him with a fins baseball cap. My first words were "I have been waiting a very long time to meet you". He looked down at the hat I was holding and said "How the hell did you recognize me"? (He had on a bike helmet & sunglasses on)....... We both laughed a little and then I pointed to the back of my car with my Margaritaville License plate frame and Air Margaritaville sticker. Jimmy then asked who was in the car, and we walked over and I introduced him to my wife, and two daughters. He reached in the window and shook everyones hand and said "Hi, I'm Jimmy"........ It was so cool as we were the only ones who realized who it was and no one else came over. I had 7 minutes to hang with him!!!!!!!!! (thats how long the ferry ride over to North Haven is) I said to him how great Radio Margaritaville is and then he interupted me and said "Well then you are just the person I would like to ask a question to." I said go right ahead, and then he asked me if I had to, how would I feel about due to something about broad band paying a small subscription fee to get Radio Margaritaville? I told him I would not be too thrilled about the idea but would probably do it because of the concerts............ He then asked me where I lived and after I told him, he said "why the hell are you leaving Shelter Island on such a beautiful day?" I said I had some things to due and then he offered autographs to me, and also signed some for the kids. I still have the marker he used with his teeth marks on the cap....... Then I asked if we can take pictures with him, he said sure, so I gave Jane Buffett my camera and showed her how it worked....... She asked Jimmy to take his bike helmet off and he said no.................. I told him if you ever see a 19' Grady White buzz past your house, thats me................ He laughed and then we said good-bye and thanked him........ I still see him from time to time outside his house, and he waves back after we buzz his dock........... (I don't have the balls yet to actually stop)............... This story is 100% true and not fabricated at all............. Our experience of meeting him was that he was and is a great guy.................

WOW! THAT IS A VERY COOL STORY!!!

It really was an amazing experience............... The ending of the video when he is sailing in that sailboat to "Lovely Cruise" was filmed around the waters in front of his house in North Haven and Shelter Island....... I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but it is pretty awesome when his seaplane has just landed and he hops out of it onto the dock and then usually someone else takes it away.............

IS SHELTER ISLAND IN NEW YORK? I GUESS THAT WHERE HE SPENDS MOST OF HIS TIME IF IT IS. I KNOW HE HAS A LOT OF HOUSES BUT I THOUGH HIS "HOME" WAS IN BUZZARDS BAY.

DID YOU HAPPEN TO CATCH WHAT KIND OF WATCH THAT IS? IT IS FREAKIN HUGE!

Not positive on the watch id, maybe a Blue Faced Oyster made by Rolex after doing a little research.................. Shelter Island is a small island inbetween the 2 eastern forks of Long Island only reachable by ferry............ I'm pretty sure his kids go to the Montesouri School in the Hamptons as he has done benefit shows for the school in the past................... I think he is more of a summer time resident when not touring and spends more time in Florida during our crappy winters...................

it's a breitling <sp>?

[Quiet and Shy]

My answer is "no", but I do enjoy reading all of your stories; thanks for sharing.

[IsleReef]

We met Jimmy & Jane Buffett while they were biking on Shelter Island and getting on the "Southern Cross" (no joke) Ferry leaving Shelter Island and we happened to be the last car on. Then they let walk-ons and people with bikes board last. Jimmy was just standing against the ferry when I got out of car and approached him with a fins baseball cap. My first words were "I have been waiting a very long time to meet you". He looked down at the hat I was holding and said "How the hell did you recognize me"? (He had on a bike helmet & sunglasses on)....... We both laughed a little and then I pointed to the back of my car with my Margaritaville License plate frame and Air Margaritaville sticker. Jimmy then asked who was in the car, and we walked over and I introduced him to my wife, and two daughters. He reached in the window and shook everyones hand and said "Hi, I'm Jimmy"........ It was so cool as we were the only ones who realized who it was and no one else came over. I had 7 minutes to hang with him!!!!!!!!! (thats how long the ferry ride over to North Haven is) I said to him how great Radio Margaritaville is and then he interupted me and said "Well then you are just the person I would like to ask a question to." I said go right ahead, and then he asked me if I had to, how would I feel about due to something about broad band paying a small subscription fee to get Radio Margaritaville? I told him I would not be too thrilled about the idea but would probably do it because of the concerts............ He then asked me where I lived and after I told him, he said "why the hell are you leaving Shelter Island on such a beautiful day?" I said I had some things to due and then he offered autographs to me, and also signed some for the kids. I still have the marker he used with his teeth marks on the cap....... Then I asked if we can take pictures with him, he said sure, so I gave Jane Buffett my camera and showed her how it worked....... She asked Jimmy to take his bike helmet off and he said no.................. I told him if you ever see a 19' Grady White buzz past your house, thats me................ He laughed and then we said good-bye and thanked him........ I still see him from time to time outside his house, and he waves back after we buzz his dock........... (I don't have the balls yet to actually stop)............... This story is 100% true and not fabricated at all............. Our experience of meeting him was that he was and is a great guy.................

WOW! THAT IS A VERY COOL STORY!!!

It really was an amazing experience............... The ending of the video when he is sailing in that sailboat to "Lovely Cruise" was filmed around the waters in front of his house in North Haven and Shelter Island....... I don't want to sound like I'm bragging, but it is pretty awesome when his seaplane has just landed and he hops out of it onto the dock and then usually someone else takes it away.............

IS SHELTER ISLAND IN NEW YORK? I GUESS THAT WHERE HE SPENDS MOST OF HIS TIME IF IT IS. I KNOW HE HAS A LOT OF HOUSES BUT I THOUGH HIS "HOME" WAS IN BUZZARDS BAY.

DID YOU HAPPEN TO CATCH WHAT KIND OF WATCH THAT IS? IT IS FREAKIN HUGE!

Not positive on the watch id, maybe a Blue Faced Oyster made by Rolex after doing a little research.................. Shelter Island is a small island inbetween the 2 eastern forks of Long Island only reachable by ferry............ I'm pretty sure his kids go to the Montesouri School in the Hamptons as he has done benefit shows for the school in the past................... I think he is more of a summer time resident when not touring and spends more time in Florida during our crappy winters...................

it's a breitling <sp>?

I honestly do not have a clue............. Maybe you are right............

[creeky]

Great stories!

Nice pic Vinnie!!! what a handsome specimen you are