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CNN Live Today

Interview With Musician Jimmy Buffet

Aired June 28, 2002 - 14:45   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we're getting in the mood. Margaritaville has come right here to CNN. Music legend Jimmy Buffet, right here to my right, right here in the studio. He's out with his thirty-third release, "Far Side of the Road."

And, you're on tour. But at least you're on the last leg of this tour. You're going to be touring and in concert tomorrow night here in Atlanta?

JIMMY BUFFET, PARROT HEAD LEADER: That's right. We're here tomorrow night and that will be the last date of this little segment. And we'll be back out in August, take six weeks. Try to get a vacation this year.

WHITFIELD: All right, you plan it just so right, so that it's right during the summer, right?

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: So you can pull out the colorful shirts and shorts.

BUFFET: I think people need a good summer.

WHITFIELD: I think so too.

BUFFET: It's been quite evident where we've been. So a few hours of fun never hurt anybody.

WHITFIELD: Yes, does it get any different? I mean, you've done this so many times, making the rounds, 33 albums, in concert all the time. But how do you keep it fresh so that you don't get bored?

BUFFET: Well, the interesting thing was, with "Far Side of the Road," with this album, normally we work up two or three songs in the set. But the people have really kind of reacted to this album. And we get like seven or eight new songs. So that certainly keeps everything fresh.

And then we hit other bases. And then simply looking at the audience, we have such great fans. And they dress and they kind of perform themselves.

WHITFIELD: Yes, people get into it. And I certainly don't want to imply that your material gets boring, because, no way, Jose. I was at the New Orleans Jazzfest earlier this year...

BUFFET: Ooh.

WHITFIELD: And you really poured in, you know, the crowd. People were there. I mean, you were a real magnet out there.

BUFFET: Well, it's amazing. I mean, after all these many years of doing it, it is still a lot of fun to do it. And I really appreciate the fact that people still come to these shows.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh, boy, did they. And I think the day that you performed was one of their largest turnouts during the festival.

BUFFET: One-hundred and thirty-five-thousand, to be exact.

WHITFIELD: I'm impressed. Yes, pretty good. And, you know, folks really look to you for some, you know, relief on the stress. I mean, they are, like you say, coming out here. They're dressing, they're wearing the sandals. They've got the colorful shirts. And they're singing along.

BUFFET: Well, it's good. I mean, and we try to keep it that way, because I certainly, you know, in these days and times it is fun to go back out for a couple hours and just kind of have a little fun. So it's been that way. Last night we were in Philadelphia. It poured down rain. It didn't affect them at all. You know, they still were there and they were great.

WHITFIELD: And you still dibble dabble in other businesses. You got to dip down to Key West every now and then. And folks, you know, have to stop into your bar and restaurant. I've been there a couple of times. Still a lot of fun.

BUFFET: Well, we don't trap them. They don't have to come in. But they can visit. The sidewalks aren't tilted where they stumble in. But we're happy to have them. I mean, all of the businesses came about years ago when, you know, everything in show business is a roller coaster ride anyway, and I kind of got branched out into some other things. I didn't know whether -- you know, longevity is not what you get in this for.

So everything has pretty much worked out. And again, it's pretty much fan based. And then along with that, we found great people who liked working for us. And we try to keep it fun and work too.

WHITFIELD: That must feel so good, though, that you do have this staying power. You don't even have to tune out a new album and you're going to pack them in, because people want to here the classics.

BUFFET: I think they do. But it's the same thing again. It's just I count 33 albums now, and still coming up with material. I certainly haven't run into writers' block yet.

WHITFIELD: So what is your inspiration for the material, besides fun in sun? BUFFET: Well, now, I mean, this album, "Far Side of the World," is an example of a trip that I took to Africa with my family. And I knew -- I mean, I can go to a basketball game and make news. So I knew if I went to Africa, something would happen. And it did. I mean, I had a great time, which eventually turned into songs, which eventually turned into album.

WHITFIELD: Wow. And so when you make those trips and you find some inspiration, do you try and borrow some of the -- you know, some of the music or some of the instruments that they news in those regions?

BUFFET: Well, yes, it's amazing, because I still simply think that music is the universal language. And I've had experiences of my own that kind of validate that. And you do -- I mean, I -- I take it back to when I grew up in Mobile, Alabama.

I listened more to rhythm and blues coming out of New Orleans than anything on the country radio. So I was certainly affected way back then. And then through stuff that came from my family, a good appreciation of calypso. So it's always kind of an add-on. You layer yourself in what your sources of creativity are. And it just keeps on going.

WHITFIELD: So this album, your 33rd album. It's "Far Side of the World." Why did you name it "Far Side of the World"?

BUFFET: Because I wound up at a party in Zanzibar on New Years and it was inspiring.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: I'll say that's out there. The far side.

BUFFET: So I was on the far side of the world, yet it was very much linked musically back to New Orleans because of old, historical trade routes. And the music was very different in Zanzibar than it is in the rest of Africa. So you listen and you look. And I love traveling and I love picking up ideas. And they usually come out as songs.

WHITFIELD: Well, your fan base is really appreciative that you do that.

BUFFET: Well, I'm glad they're still hanging around.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks very much, Jimmy Buffet. Nice to meet you.

BUFFET: Pleasure.

WHITFIELD: Have a good time at the concert tomorrow night. Folks in Atlanta will be enjoying you.

BUFFET: We shall have a good time.

WHITFIELD: All right, appreciate it. His album is the "Far Side of the World."

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