• Jimmy Buffett

  • A Good Life All the Way
  • By: Ryan White
  • Narrated by: Gibson Frazier
  • Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (335 ratings)

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Jimmy Buffett  By  cover art

Jimmy Buffett

By: Ryan White
Narrated by: Gibson Frazier
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Publisher's summary

In Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All the Way, acclaimed music critic Ryan White has crafted the first definitive account of Buffett's rise from singing songs for beer to his emergence as a tropical icon and CEO behind the Margaritaville industrial complex, a vast network of merchandise, chain restaurants, resorts, and lifestyle products all inspired by his sunny but disillusioned hit "Margaritaville".

Filled with interviews from friends, musicians, Coral Reefer Band members past and present, and business partners who were there, this book is a top-down joyride with plenty of side trips and meanderings from Mobile and Pascagoula to New Orleans, Key West, down into the islands aboard the Euphoria and the Euphoria II, and into the studios and onto the stages where the foundation of Buffett's reputation was laid.

Buffett wasn't always the pied piper of beaches, bars, and laid-back living. Born on the Gulf Coast, the son of a son of a sailing ship captain, Buffett scuffed around New Orleans in the late '60s, flunked out of Nashville (and a marriage) in 1971, and found refuge among the artists, dopers, shrimpers, and genuine characters who'd collected at the end of the road in Key West. And it was there, in those waning outlaw days at the last American exit, where Buffett, like Hemingway before him, found his voice and eventually brought to life the song that would launch Parrot Head nation.

And just where is Margaritaville? It's wherever it's five o'clock; it's wherever there's a breeze and salt in the air; and it's wherever Buffett sets his bare feet, smiles, and sings his songs.

©2017 Ryan White (P)2017 Simon & Schuster Audio

What listeners say about Jimmy Buffett

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Learn how to pronounce local terms

Love the book but the narrater mispronounced so many Florida terms wrong. You can't do a Keys story using a soft ch in Conch!

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7 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Good Story...Terrible Narrator

Really enjoyed the story, as I've been a long-time Buffett fan. The history, from his grandfather through his career to present day, was entertaining and interesting.

The narrator obviously did not put forth any effort to research the book or it's geographical base before recording. As a Gulf Coast native, it was incredibly frustrating to hear him mis-pronounce so many place names and phrases, all of which are highly pertinent to the story and the area where much of it takes place. Conch (Conch Republic, Conch Train, etc.) is pronounced "conk", not "con-CH"...Gautier, Mississippi is pronounced "Gau-shay", not "Gaw-tee-air"...Mobile, Alabama is pronounced "Mob-eel", not "mobul", like a mobile home...and the list goes painfully on. For his lame attempt to recreate a Cajun accent, he should be permanently banned from travel south of I-20. To paraphrase one of Jimmy's songs..."Don't try to describe the ocean if you've never seen it (or heard it)!"

Overall, I'd recommend the book, but it would probably be better as a traditional book, or as an e-book, than to endure the narrator.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Answered a bunch of questions

This one was entertaining start to finish. Been a parrothead since the early 70's ( about the first time I heard Come Monday) and learned a bunch of stuff I didn't know.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A+

This story is good even if you're not a Buffett fan. Ride your own wave. Don't give up. Keep working.

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Long time parrot head

I very much enjoyed the reading, a long time Jimmy Buffett fan. I sing and play his songs and dream of the good times.

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Fantastic description of Buffetts incredible life.

An accurate explanation of Jimmy's life from early life thru his wordly success. We get introduced to many fellow musicians, friends and locations Jimmy met along his way.

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  • Overall
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Aging Parrothead

This is a great read for anyone interested in learning more about Mr.Buffett.
It does get a little wordy in some spots but overall I enjoyed the book.

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  • Overall
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Nashvegas

Nice to hear the Nashville side of things. Clears up some potential mis-information. Good Show!!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Worthwhile Margaritaville trip .

Loved this glimpse into the Buffett phenomenon and the history lessons about the places associated with him. This a wonderful passport to Margaritaville.

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Parrot head For Life

Loved it! Jimmy's world became everyone's world the moment he picked up his guitar for the first time!

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