The "Entertainment While I Write" Story

The email that drew my attention a few weeks ago.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting in my chair in the den, striking the small square keys of the keyboard in front of my desktop iMac computer.  My entertainment for the evening, besides my little cat, The Gray Lady, who is trying to add extra letters to this story, is listening to and singing along with Jimmy Buffett who happens to be in Key West while I am watching and singing along to his tunes emanating from the bottom right corner of my computer screen.  

The Coral Reefer Band

The site I have open in order to hear his songs is titled Margaritaville TV.  He has graciously allowed me and perhaps a few million others a chance to watch his "Spring 2020 Cabin Fever Virtual Tour" titled "Your Virtual License To Chill."  

Jimmy Buffett...but, did I really have to tell you that!

Actually, tonight is an encore perfor- mance that is not live, but a repeat of a live perfor- mance from the past.  The statement at the beginning of the link reads: With live touring temporarily paused as we all do our part to socially distance, we'll be offering up a one-of-a-kind virtual tour featuring some of the memorable and unique shows to help cope with cabin fever.  We will be re-broadcasting a concert for the archive "live" like we would from a night on tour.  Be sure to tune in, because when the broadcast ends, the show goes back into the vault.  

Mac McAnally

I can either listen to him on SiriusXM radio or watch on my computer.  Of course, at the bottom of the link is a chance to buy hats, t-shirts, CDs, etc.  At the end of the hour of music was a tour given by someone whom I don't know from Key West showing where Jimmy lived at 704 Waddell Street in Key West and where he first performed years ago on his way to fame and gigantic fortune.  

Michael Utley on the 120 bass accordion

And, what's neat is that tomorrow, and for the next five evenings, I will be able to listen to another concert he has performed in the recent past.  One of the shows comes from Cuba in which he only has three other members in his band, while the rest feature a full collection of "Coral Reefer Band" performers from Michael Utley on keyboards to Mac McAnally on guitar and vocals to Robert Greenridge on steel drums, Peter Mayer on lead guitar and vocals and Jim Meyer on bass guitar and vocals.  

Robert Greenridge on Steel Drums

I have added a few songs at the end that you may enjoy if you too are a Parrothead.  It was back on Thursday, August 25, 2005 that Carol and I headed to Citizens Bank Park in Philadel- phia to hear Jimmy in person in his "A Salty Piece of Land" Concert.  We had a great time in the packed stadium which seemed to vibrate as every one stood and danced along to his songs.  The performance is one that I will never forget.  

The house where Jimmy lived at 704 Waddell St., Key West

Carol and I were introduced to his music one summer day in the late 1990s while visiting with our friends Jere and Just Sue in State College.  We were all headed in their car to someplace I don't remember, when they turned on one of his CDs for us to hear.  Jimmy happened to be singing "Let's Get Drunk And Screw" and I looked at Carol and ... well, we were hooked on his style of music.  After all those years we can probably sing along with him to most of his songs he has performed.  I recently ordered his new CD that happened to come with a new hat for my collection.  Not sure when it will arrive, but I can hardly wait.  Said that most of the songs are new.  Now, my only problem I have while typing stories while listening to his music and keeping an eye on The Gray Lady is I tend to miss a few letters she has added from time to time. Perhaps you'll find them in my story.  Hey, she wants to become a parrothead also!  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.