Jimmy Buffett: Country Pays Tribute At Rock Hall
Country musicians were a big part of last night’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cleveland. But the thing that country fans were looking forward to was the tribute to Jimmy Buffett, who got the Award for Musical Excellence. Buffett, of course, passed away last year.
“I wish he could be here, but it’s too late,” fellow inductee Dave Matthews said as he started the tribute to Jimmy Buffett. Alone on stage, he sang a touching version of “A Pirate Looks at Forty.” It was a reminder that, although Buffett’s biggest hits are party jams like “Margaritaville,” “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “Volcano,” and “Fins,” Buffett wrote and sang some of the most beautiful ballads. Given that Matthews was being inducted with the Dave Matthews Band, it speaks volumes about his respect for Buffett and that he took part in the tribute.
James Taylor’s Speech About Jimmy Buffett
James Taylor then took the stage to speak about Buffett. He recalled Jimmy’s wife Jane’s “going away party” for Jimmy. Taylor noted that he spoke at that event too. He said that Buffett was like a hero in a Greek myth. “His story was our story.” He noted that “He loved being Jimmy Buffett. And he absolutely loved his audience.”
“He was larger than life but also always authentic,” he said. “Jimmy was the self made man and a poet and there won’t be another like him. I just wish I could see him enjoy this moment tonight.”
Taylor, Kenney Chesney and songwriter/producer Mac McAnally on acoustic guitars played another one of Buffett’s classic ballads, “Come Monday.”
There were a few other country moments: Kelly Clarkson sang during the Foreigner tribute, singing “I Want To Know What Love Is” as a duet with Foreigner’s original lead singer, Lou Gramm.
Keith Urban joined inductee Peter Frampton for a pretty sweet guitar due on his epic jam “Do You Feel Like I Do?”
Finally, Jelly Roll joined a number of rock musicians including Robert Trujillo of Metallica, Wolfgang Van Halen and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith for a cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mama, I’m Coming Home.”
As previously reported, the 2024 ceremony will be available on demand on Disney+. An edited special will air on ABC at a later date, which will be available on Hulu the next day.
