| Storm stirs Buffett | | Date Created: Sep 17, 2005, 07:16 AM |
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FROM NEW YORK DAILY NEWS:
Jimmy Buffett was born in Mississippi, has a business in New Orleans and kicked around the Gulf Coast for much of his career.
So, instinctively, he knew when Hurricane Katrina hit, he would be involved in some sort of benefit for the victims. But he had no idea at that point it would be the massive "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy" benefit unfolding Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall.
"It affected me very deeply," Buffett said of the disaster. "We had employees missing in New Orleans. I was immersed in the aftermath. I knew I was going to do something."
When the storm hit, he was preparing for a string of major shows at Chicago's Wrigley Field - a first for Buffett - and it was hard not to think about the devastation.
"It was in the back of my mind," he said. "I turned the television off and quit reading. I had to concentrate on making people, for two hours, happier."
That's what entertainers do, he said. They provide a respite for the fans from everyday life, or in this case, tragedy.
Among those scheduled to perform at Tuesday's concerts are Buffett, Lenny Kravitz, Bette Midler, the Neville Brothers, the Meters, Simon & Garfunkel, John Fogerty and Elvis Costello. The shows will also be carried on pay-per-view, with 100% of every pay-per-view purchase going toward long-term relief to the region.
"I was going to go down there at one point," Buffett said. "But I didn't want to be another celebrity in front of a bunch of wreckage to tell you the truth. I wanted to stay under the radar."
This is not, mind you, Buffett's first hurricane benefit.
Last year, he did benefits for the folks in Florida who struggled through four hurricanes. And he's done them in the past.
Likewise, many of the performers in Tuesday's shows have been directly affected by the storm.
Buffett had family members in Mississippi lose their homes. And he has a Margaritaville restaurant in New Orleans.
The Neville Brothers were forced to flee the region, as were members of the Meters, a well-known New Orleans group.
"One of the great parts of Creole culture that I love is we dance and eat at our funerals. It's part of what we do," Buffett said.
Tickets to both concerts are still on sale at the box offices of the Garden and Radio City, and through Ticketmaster. The pay-per-view telecast, available by contacting local cable operators, will cost $19.95.
"I've never seen so much effort going in the direction of the need," Buffett said. "One thing that strikes me, being a veteran of everything by now, is how quickly this came together."
There are also likely to be some emotional moments on stage, Buffett said, because of the direct connection with the region so many of the performers have.
"In terms of the way I was brought up, the show goes on, and you deal with it. That's what's driven this show at this point," he said. "If you've got people to think like that you're going to have a great show."
Buffett will have a 40-minute slot to fill during the concert at the Garden.
"I've got some people that are going to play with us," he said. "There will be a lot of wonderful mixing and matching. I don't know about anyone else, but when Fats Domino gets up and plays the piano, my ass is going to be on stage."
Originally published on September 17, 2005 |
| City of New Orleans - live at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Labor Day, 2005 | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 10:37 AM |
 Jimmy Buffett honored the city of New Orleans, the victims of Hurricane Katrina and all his friends in the city with a moving rendition of City of New Orleans during his Labor Day concert in Chicago. I have a copy of it for you here....
-Jeff |
| Margaritaville New Orleans Update | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 10:07 AM |
 "Until Hurricane Katrina, Keesha Lanehart, a cook, was working at the Margaritaville Cafe in New Orleans, owned by singer Jimmy Buffett.
She said Buffett has been good to his employees, offering a four-week advance in pay, paying for two nights in a hotel and offering jobs at other Margaritaville Cafe restaurants."
The Margaritaville Empire tries to take care of its own, but Keesha has relocated to Illinois. |
| Jimmy with Jack Johnson again! | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 10:03 AM |
Wednesday, Sept. 7
Heard this from a couple of club members . . .
Last night Jimmy surprised everyone by showing up at Jack Johnson's concert to sing A Pirate Looks at Forty with him at the very end of the show.
This concert took place at Mizner Park in Boca Raton and soon after he sang, jimmy was gone just as fast as he came. For those lucky few parrot heads who were there it was awesome.
Wish I would have been there but didn't even know about the concert . . . which was about 4 blocks from my house! Argh!
Pami
Barefoot Children of Ft. Lauderdale PHC |
| Drifty reaches out to Parrotheads on Katrina | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 09:55 AM |
Folks;
I feel the need to talk to you, I sit here at work and through the kindness of my employer I am allowed to listen to http://www.wwltv.com all day long. I am able to keep up on what is happening in the Gulf Region devastated by Katrina. My prayers go out the members of our Parrot Head Nation, their families and friends affected by this devastation. My prayers also go out to people, and family and friends who worked at Margaritaville in New Orleans. My prayers go out to all
affected by this devastation. I sit here and listen to the Parrish
Leaders as they beg for help. I sit here and listen to what is being
done to help them. I have not been surprised at all about the out
pouring from you the club leaders and the club members with offers and
ideas of ways to help that I have received. I can tell you that the PHIP
Board and the Paradise Charitable Foundation Board are both working on
ways to help. However, we are amateurs when it comes to things like
this. So,we have to take our time and look at things closely to see
where our help can be best utilized. We are working on this.
Now, I know that a lot of you would like to do something immediately.
The only thing I can suggest is to take our Presidents advice, and then
follow Capt Harry's lead and contribute to the Red Cross.
(http://www.redcross.org) You can do this through Loew's although they
may have reached their matching funds already, some of the companies you
work for may have a matching funds program in place. I am sure their are
other companies that are offering matching funds programs. Just, please
remember any donations you do to mark them for "Katrina Disaster Relief."
I know the Philly Parrotheads through their 501(c)(3) foundation
"Tri-State Parrot Head Foundation" is accepting donations for Katrina
Relief http://www.phillyparrotheads.com/katrina_relief
I know that Margaritaville is planing something and when I get full
information on that I will forward it to you. Meanwhile they have set up
this web page http://www.margaritaville.com/katrina/ which also has a
link to a message board. if you have any info on any of their family and
friends you can leave a message there. I know that the Margaritaville
folks are very concerned about their family and friends if you have any
info let them know.
I just heard if you are looking for someone in the New Orleans area, and
perhaps other areas you can search by name on the special forums set up
on the WWL TV website http://www.wwltv.com
I have setup on my personal website forum area a place for you to post
to look for someone or to tell us someone is safe and to leave ideas.
http://www.keylimekey.com/news/index.php?c=7
Like I said, my employer is very understanding and I am allowed to
monitor things here at work. As I get news or anything from any area I
will update you.
--
Fenton "Drifty" Moore
President
Parrot Heads In Paradise, Inc.
(856) 236-6015 |
- PHIP notes > Drifty reaches out to Parrotheads on Katrina
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| Pre-Order "Live in Fenway" CD/DVD | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 09:40 AM |
 Jimmy Buffett's new live CD/DVD "Live in Fenway" is now available for pre-ordering at Amazon.com. The CD/DVD will include songs from the Fenway Park shows on 9/10/04 and 9/12/04. It will be released on November 8th, 2005.
Here's the track list that has been provided to us:
1. Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes
2. The Great Filling Station Holdup
3. Pencil Thin Moustache
4. Fruitcakes
5. License To Chill
6. Son Of A Son Of A Sailor
7. Boat Drinks
8. Brown Eyed Girl
9. Volcano
10. Why Don't We Get Drunk (with Purple Rain)
11. Sweet Caroline
12. Hey Good Lookin
13. Pascagoula Run
14. One Particular Harbour
15. Respect
16. Gypsies In The Palace
17. Grapefruit Juicy Fruit
18. Come Monday
19. Jolly Mon Sing
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| ?Raffle of Lifetime? to benefit Parrothead victims of Katrina | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 09:36 AM |
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Parrot Heads In Paradise together with the Paradise Charitable Foundation has set up the Parrot Heads In Need (PHIN) Fund. This fund is being set up to help those Parrot Heads in the devastated areas. To contribute visit
http://www.paradisefoundation.org/phinfund.cfm
To get the money rolling into the new fund, PhiP has received from Margaritaville Tequila two tickets to the Jimmy Buffett Concert in Las Vegas on October 22nd.
In addition, they will throw in a hotel room for 2 nights and 2 passes to the private Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers Pre-Concert Party. This is the party that the band attends.
There will also be 2 personally signed items from Jimmy going to the winners. The package will include airfare, too. And we almost forgot ? . the prize will also include 2 backstage passes to meet Jimmy Buffett!
Tickets are being printed as we speak. The CVPHC will be receiving 100 tickets by mail soon. Jeff will update you when they arrive so we can begin selling them!
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| PHIN Fund established to help Katrina Victims | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 09:34 AM |
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Parrot Heads In Paradise togther with the Paradise Charitable Foundation has set up the Parrot Heads In Need (PHIN) Fund. This fund is being set up to help those Parrot Heads in the devastated areas.
To contribute visit http://www.paradisefoundation.org/phinfund.cfm. |
- PHIP notes > PHIN Fund established to help Katrina Victims
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| Hawaii Red Cross | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 09:21 AM |
 Singer Jimmy Buffett is donating 25-thousand dollars to the Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross Thursday. Buffett has long been a fan of Hawaii and dreamed for decades of performing a benefit concert in Diamond Head Crater. He decided instead to help out the Red Cross with a donation.
Buffett performed at the Aloha Stadium in 1979 and most recently appeared at the Waikiki Shell in April. He called the donation a small payback for all of the aloha spirit he has received in the Aloha State. |
| Buffett to Take Part in Katrina Benefit | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 09:08 AM |
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band will be joining such names as Elton John, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Lenny Kravitz, the Neville Brothers and many others for a September 20 Benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina. This concert is dubbed, "From the Big Apple to the Big Easy," and will also feature some of New Orleans' most notable musicians.
In addition to underwriting the show, Madison Square Garden will donate $1 million to Katrina-related fundraising efforts. All proceeds from the event will benefit like-minded causes. Tickets go on sale September 13.
Due to the scheduling of this event on September 20 and the inclusion fo the Coral Reefer Band, Peter Mayer's September 20 performance at the Gravity Lounge in Charlottesville, VA has been cancelled.
Peter looks forward to rescheduling his Charlottesville appearance and is also thrilled about the opportunity to be involved in a fundraiser of this size for such a worthy cause.
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| Buffett Gets CMA Nomination - again! | | Date Created: Sep 10, 2005, 09:04 AM |
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From PRNewsWire:
Jimmy Buffett continues his love affair with the format in 2005 nominated for Musical Event of the Year with Martina McBride for "Trip Around the Sun". In 2003, Buffett won his first-ever music award when he and Alan Jackson won Vocal Event (now Musical Event) for their party-ode "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere." Buffett received his first CMA Award nomination in 1977 when he was nominated for Single of the Year for "Margaritaville."
The other nominees for Musical Event of the Year:
George Strait with Lee Ann Womack - "Good News, Bad News"
Willie Nelson with Lee Ann Womack - "I'll Never Be Free"
Brad Paisley with Sara Evans - "New Again"
Shania Twain with Billy Currington - "Party For Two"
"The 39th Annual CMA Awards" will be hosted for the second year by Brooks & Dunn and broadcast live from New York City's Madison Square Garden, Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on CBS.
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| No ticket, no problem for loyal Buffett fans | | Date Created: Sep 05, 2005, 08:33 AM |
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By Dave Wischnowsky - Tribune staff reporter
September 5, 2005
Even Harry Caray wore a lei.
With a Hawaiian flower necklace hanging from its neck and a parrot balloon resting in its outstretched hand, the statue of the legendary Chicago Cubs announcer and celebrated fun-lover standing outside Wrigley Field was in a Jimmy Buffett state of mind Sunday night.
Just like everyone else.
"Parrotheads are everywhere," said Nick Riva, 25, as he sat with friends on a blanket along Waveland Avenue and listened to the tropical tunes of Jimmy Buffett waft over the outfield wall.
For the first time ever Sunday, Wrigley Field hosted a full-fledged concert inside its storied walls. The event, which will be repeated at 2 p.m. Monday with another sold-out concert, drew Jimmy Buffett fans of all ages decked out in flowered shirts, grass skirts and Parrot-shaped hats.
Police presence was considerable at the event, as officials set up fences along Waveland and Sheffield Avenues in a scene reminiscent of the Chicago Cubs' playoff run in 2003 when crowds lined the streets outside the stadium.
With concert tickets running from $90 to $130, those lucky enough to get into the sold-out venue sounded like they got their money's worth, judging by the cheers and the singalongs. But as Buffett, 58, belted out his well-known hits, those on the streets outside Wrigley Field were having no less fun.
"It's like the best theme party you ever went to in college," said Josh Zaffino, 25. "Wrigleyville goes Hawaiian."
Zaffino was unable to get tickets to the concert. But he wasn't disappointed from his seat on the grass along Waveland.
"We all wanted to go inside," he said. "But this is just as good."
John Klich, 29, of Chicago agreed. He walked down Waveland Avenue with friends decked out in a Hawaiian shirt and leis.
"It was too expensive to buy a ticket," Klich said. "But the atmosphere outside on Waveland is outstanding. It's vibrant. The neighborhood is alive."
Many concertgoers also thought that Wrigley Field should host more music events.
"They definitely need to have more concerts here," Riva said. "It's a big business. They'll probably make more money [from this concert] than a Cubs game."
Despite the festive atmosphere that turned Wrigleyville into Margaritaville for the weekend, many people's minds were on the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
"Actually, it's hard to not think about the hurricane," Klich said.
"I've been thinking about it a little bit," said Bob Miller of Lake Zurich. "In fact, I'd like to see Jimmy give some money [to the hurricane victims]." |
| Buffett's escapism right at home at Wrigley - Chicago Sun review | | Date Created: Sep 05, 2005, 08:31 AM |
 "Give me some words we can dance to," Jimmy Buffett sang from the center field stage Sunday night at Wrigley Field. The line is from the Steve Goodman composition "Banana Republics," popularized on Buffett's 1977's "Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes" album. This is the record that defined Buffett as an artist of escapism, as it also delivered "Margaritaville."
Liberation from daily life is what has made Buffett a cultural phenomenon equal to the Cubs and is why he played to sellouts of 39,500 on Sunday and Monday afternoon at Wrigley. "Give me some words we can dance to" had even greater meaning over a Labor Day 2005 weekend where news is disconsolate.
But the Gulf Coast native was on top of his game in a performance that was fueled by the rock 'n' roll pocket of his band (guitarist Peter Mayer, drummer Roger Guth, bassist Jim Mayer, formerly the band PM from St. Louis) and musical director/keyboardist Michael Utley. After "Banana Republics," the band nailed Stephen Stills' "Southern Cross" and adroitly shaped the pop hooks of "Schoolboy Heart." Afterwards Buffett told the Wrigley throng, "I don't know if we'll ever get to do this again," but was quick to add he will be back when the Cubs win the World Series.
Sunday night was the closest I've seen to World Series merriment on the field at Clark and Addison. Walking through the gates 90 minutes before showtime, I was met by a long line of vendors selling margaritas. Wow. This was like a late-night infomercial "Tribsters Gone Wild." Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich was dancing in a center field aisle. Buffett hired a blimp to hover over the ballpark during the concert and the view of the packed park from above was breathtaking. Of course, this was the job for me. My memories of Buffett concerts and Wrigley Field could fill this newspaper.
Add this one to the list: for the evening's final encore Buffett and his fine guitarist MacMcAnally adjourned to the top row in the southern corner of the right field bleachers. This is where Buffett and the late Goodman sat in the mid-1970s when they hung out at Wrigley. Buffett was performing at the Quiet Knight near the ballpark and Goodman was in residence at the Earl of Old Town. Buffett and McAnally delivered a tender version of Goodman's train classic "City of New Orleans" as classic pre-Hurricane Katrina images of the Crescent City flashed on the big screens. The majestic Wrigley Field scoreboard was bathed in a calming blue. I saw people cry. Goodman's mother and brother were in the audience.
Buffett played up the Chicago feel to include a taped introduction of Ernie "Mr. Cub" Banks welcoming all parrot heads, a real seventh inning stretch and a plug for Buffett's Cheeseburger In Paradise restaurant in Downers Grove during a rollicking version of "Cheeseburger in Paradise." Buffett also included rare chestnuts such as a charging, electric version of 1976's "Woman Going Crazy on Caroline Street."
The acoustics up front were fine but muffled in the back of the stadium. Regular Buffett fans I talked to under the grandstands said even that was better than the Tweeter Center or the lawn at Alpine Valley, places where Buffett usually holds court. Neighborhood concerns kept amplification down (the show was over around 8:45 p.m.), but just before intermission Buffett's traditional sing-along of Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" bounced around the grandstands like center fielder Don Young's bobble.
And speaking of bad Cub moments, the Cubs are so far gone this year Buffett didn't even attempt to ''lift the curse,'' which he successfully accomplished last year at Fenway Park in Boston. But with all the tickets, alcohol, souvenir T-shirts ($35 for a commemorative Wrigley Field/Buffett T-shirt), parking and more alcohol sold over the weekend, Cubs CEO and Buffett fan Andy MacPhail can now afford a nice free agent.
When Buffett and the Cubs cut the concert deal with the city, the Cubs agreed not to stage any concerts next year. You'll never see the Rolling Stones at Wrigley Field (they played Fenway this summer), but I don't think a Dave Matthews-type act is out of the question. Buffett even opened the door for jam music at Wrigley by covering the Grateful Dead's "Scarlet Begonias" -- but then Grateful Dead is a synonym for Cubs Nation.
A few things need to be ironed out if the Cubs do this again. The women's bathroom lines were outrageous during intermission. Traffic flows in the concourse were disoriented. I'm sure neighbors weren't pleased with all the production trucks and trailers parked on Sheffield Avenue. For me, those were small prices to pay to watch Buffett sing the Labor Day weekend ballad "Come Monday" as the sun set down the third base line. And when this difficult Labor Day weekend is over, the sun will rise again, a message Jimmy Buffett instills in your heart.
Copyright © The Sun-Times Company |
| Jimmy Buffett at Wrigley is 'heaven' | | Date Created: Sep 05, 2005, 08:26 AM |
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BY LISA DONOVAN Staff Reporter
Even Harry Caray's statue had a tropical lei around its neck and a parrot in its hand Sunday night.
No doubt, Wrigley Field revelers believed the late Cubs announcer would have enjoyed the Jimmy Buffett concert going on inside the ballpark, an event that will go down in history.
It was the first time the stadium's doors were opened strictly for a non-game event.
"This is heaven. I'm a Cubs fan, so coming here and seeing Jimmy Buffett -- this is like coming to the field of dreams," said a shirtless Tony Bonavolonta, 29, of Elmhurst, draped in a string of Mardi Gras beads, each the size of Christmas ornaments.
He was among a sold-out crowd of 39,500 -- some men and women clad in coconut shell bikini tops and grass skirts -- who had the chance to see the field in a different light amid 70-degree weather.
Not allowed on the bases
The two Schneeman brothers and their wives, with tickets near the onfield stage, marveled at standing where the ballplayers normally do. Plastic planks on the field served as a walkway, and Tom Schneeman lamented that the infield had been cordoned off.
"We wanted to run around the bases, but they wouldn't let us," said Schneeman, 40, of Oswego, with a beer in hand.
There were complaints during the first of a two-night stand, including long bathroom and beer lines.
But laid-back fans forgot all about that at 6:15 p.m., when a barefoot Buffett, dressed in green shorts and a yellow T-shirt with "New Orleans" lettered on the front, took the stage. With the exception of a brief intermission, he never stopped singing and smiling, and the crowd -- from the stands to the field -- never sat down.
About two hours later, when he began the strains of his signature tune "Margaritaville," the crowd erupted in applause, and many taking a smoke break in the breezeways ran back to rejoin the festivities.
Outside Wrigley, on Addison, fans who couldn't get a ticket, as well as the curious, listened. The scene was similar to a game day, with vendors hawking their wares and a sports shop selling T-shirts that read -- of course -- "Wasted Away Again in Wrigleyville."
Copyright © The Sun-Times Company |
| Katrina aid by check... | | Date Created: Sep 02, 2005, 08:25 AM |
Just want to let you know that the PHIN Fund is for our family. Our Parrot Heads In Need. I will have the web site up by the weekend I hope. However if anyone wants to donate by check you can make the check payable to the Paradise Charitable Foundation and make sure to mark PHIN Fund in the memo field and mail them to:
PHIN FUND
c/oParadise Charitable Foundation
828 Wackeman Court
Westerville, OH 43081
For more information on the Paradise Charitable Foundation please visit
http://www.paradisefoundation.org
Fenton "Drifty" Moore
President
Parrot Heads In Paradise, Inc.
http://www.phip.com
email: phip.president@gmail.com |
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