Margaritaville singer Jimmy Buffett has passed away peacefully at the age of 76, after battling with ill health in recent months.
Buffett was born in the US state of Mississippi but was raised in neighboring Alabama before moving to Nashville, Tennessee.
He worked for the music and entertainment magazine Billboard, with the dream of making a career as a country singer.
Buffett hit a high note in his career with his 1977 album Changes Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which included the song Margaritaville, enjoying 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Buffett was nominated for two Grammy awards and was a prolific artist – releasing more than 20 albums. Earlier this year he revealed that he had recorded a new work.
Announcing the tragedy, a statement on social media read:
“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1 surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” said a statement on his website.
“He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”
Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson tweeted a picture of one of Buffett’s album covers with the message: “Love and mercy, Jimmy Buffett”.
“Rest in power @jimmybuffett I’m glad we had time to vibe,” wrote the rapper LL Cool J.
“You were and always will be a Truly inspiring human.”
