With the sad news of the passing of Jimmy Buffett, I couldn’t help but smile thinking the legend is now with his old friend Steve Goodman.
Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” a statement posted to Buffett’s official website and social media pages said late Friday. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”
Steve Goodman and Jimmy Buffett were friends and collaborators.
Goodman was a Chicago-based singer-songwriter who wrote humorous and insightful songs about everyday life. Buffett was a singer-songwriter who wrote songs about the joys of island life and the importance of having fun.
The two met in the early 1970s, and they quickly became friends. They bonded over their shared love of music and their sense of humor. Goodman’s songs often reflected Buffett’s laid-back lifestyle, and Buffett often covered Goodman’s songs in his live shows.
In 1977, Buffett recorded Goodman’s song “Banana Republics” on his album “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”. The song became a hit, and it helped to introduce Goodman’s music to a wider audience.
Goodman wrote and collaborated on several songs for Buffett, including “Woman Goin’ Crazy on Caroline Street”, “Frank and Lola”, and “It’s Midnight and I’m Not Famous Yet”.
Goodman and Buffett continued to collaborate until Goodman’s death in 1984.
Goodman, a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs, grew up in Chicago and attended many Cubs games as a child. Rumor has it he even had a season ticket to Wrigley Field for a few years.
In 1984, the Chicago Cubs finally made the playoffs and Goodman was asked to sing the national anthem at a playoff game, but he died of leukemia days before his scheduled appearance.
Buffett sang the anthem in Goodman’s honor.
Buffett sang the anthem with passion and respect, and he brought a touch of his own style to the song. The Cubs won the game 13-0, and Buffett’s performance is considered one of the most memorable moments in Cubs history.
Goodman’s death was a great loss to the music world. He was a talented songwriter with a unique voice. His songs are still enjoyed by fans today.
Buffett never forgot his friend. He has often spoken about Goodman in interviews, and he has continued to cover Goodman’s songs in his live shows.
In 2008, Buffett released a tribute album to Goodman called “License to Chill”.
Consistent with the lyrics of “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request” (“Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow … / And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue.”), Goodman’s friends sneaked into Wrigley Field and deposited some of his ashes there.
The rest were scattered at Doubleday Field near the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The friendship between Buffett and Goodman is a reminder of the power of music to bring people together, and I’m sure they will play one hell of a show together tonight.
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