In the weeks since Jimmy Buffett passed away, there have been many tributes to the singer-songwriter. Now, one looks to trump them all, and it may become one of the most impressive honors to come to the musician following his death.
Fans of the legendary singer-songwriter may soon have the chance to cruise down one of Florida’s iconic coastal highways, which could be renamed for the late star. State Representative Chuck Clemons, a Florida Republican, has filed House Bill 91, seeking to grant an “honorary designation” to specific portions of State Road A1A in certain counties in the state.
If the bill is approved, the coastal highway, which stretches from Key West in the south to Fernandina Beach in the north, will be renamed the Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway. The name will take affect in a number of counties, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Nassau, among many others.
This kind of honor is typically reserved for native sons and daughters of a state, but that’s not the cade here. Though he may be associated with Florida and the lifestyle it provides, Buffett was actually born in Mississippi and raised in Alabama.
Buffett quickly tied himself to Florida after spending time in the state and moving to Key West. The musician spent much of his life there, and it inspired not just some of his work, but much of the image that he then parlayed into a multi-million dollar brand.
Key West helped Buffett combine tropical sounds, styles and themes with the country music he had been trying to peddle in Nashville before heading south. That blend helped him reach a new audience, and it can be heard and felt in many of his biggest hits, such as “Margaritaville,” his most beloved composition.
Buffett passed away a month ago from Merkel cell cancer, and his death came as a total shock. The singer had never disclosed the illness, which he had reportedly been fighting for some time, to the public. In the wake of his passing, his sales and streams skyrocketed, and many fans have been seeking ways to honor him—including politicians.
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