Touring and recording act of Jimmy Buffett
The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett (until Buffett's death in September 2023). The band's name alludes to both coral reefs (in line with Buffett's tropical-themed music) and "reefer" (slang for marijuana).
Fingers Taylor, an original Coral Reefer, would discover Buffett performing solo one evening at The Hub on the University of Southern Mississippi campus in 1970.[2] This resulted in Taylor contributing harmonica accompaniment for part of the performance, the beginning of their long-term collaboration.
The band performed their final concert with Buffett on May 6, 2023, in San Diego, about three and a half months before Buffett's death in September of that year.[3] On October 30, 2023, Mac McAnally stated in an interview that the Coral Reefer Band would continue touring and performing Buffett's music at his request.[4]
The band reunited for the first time since Buffett's passing on April 11, 2024, and served as the house band for the ‘Keep the Party Going: A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett’ concert at the Hollywood Bowl. At the concert, McAnally introduced Jake Shimabukuro, Scotty Emerick and Caroline Jones as full-time members of the group.
Different iterations of the band performed throughout the weekend at different events as part of the 2024 New Orleans JazzFest before the entire band - minus Jones, who had her own solo show - came together to perform on the mainstage on the day of the festival's closing. At one event, guitarist Peter Mayer revealed the band would be meeting in the coming days to discuss future plans.
Current line-up
As of 2024, the band's lineup consists of:[5]
- Doyle Grisham – pedal steel guitar (1974–1976, 1981, 1998–present)
- Michael Utley – keyboards (1975–present)
- Robert Greenidge – steel drums (1983–present)
- Peter Mayer – harmony and backing vocals, lead guitar (1989–present)
- Jim Mayer – harmony and backing vocals, bass (1989–present)
- Roger Guth – drums (1989–present)
- John Lovell – trumpet (1992–present)
- Mac McAnally – harmony and backing vocals, lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitars, slide guitar, dobro (1994–present)
- Tina Gullickson – harmony and backing vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar (1995–present)
- Nadirah Shakoor – harmony and backing vocals, lead vocals (1995–present)
- Eric Darken – percussion (2011–present)
- Mick Utley - harmony and backing vocals, keyboards (2022–present)
- Scotty Emerick - harmony and backing vocals, guitar (2023–present)
- Jake Shimabukuro – ukulele (2024–present; guest 2005–2009)
- Caroline Jones - harmony and backing vocals, guitar (2024–present)
Former members
Other former members of the Coral Reefer Band include:
- Jimmy Buffett – Vocals, rhythm guitar, ukulele (1974–2023; died 2023)
- Roger Bartlett [citation needed] – harmony vocals, Acoustic guitar, electric guitar. Wrote “Dallas.” (1973–1977) (the original guitarist; traveled with Jimmy as a duo in the early days)
- Ralph MacDonald – Percussion (1974–2011; died 2011)
- Greg "Fingers" Taylor – vocals, harmonica, keyboards, percussion (1975–2000, 2007; died 2023)
- Harry Dailey – harmony and backing vocals, bass. Co-writer "Volcano." (1975–1982; died 2003)
- Philip Fajardo – Drums (1975–1976)
- Kenny Buttrey – drums, percussion (1977–1978; died 2004)
- Sam Clayton – Backing Vocals, Congas, Percussion (1982–1988)
- Timothy B. Schmit – harmony and backing vocals, bass, occasional lead vocals (1983?-1986?) (Schmit coined the term Parrotheads)
- Tim Drummond – Bass Guitar (1986–1988)
- Marshall Chapman – guitar, background vocals (1987); co-writer "Last Mango in Paris," writer "The Perfect Partner"
- Amy Lee – saxophone. Co-writer of "Fruitcakes". (1991–2005)
- T.C. Mitchell – saxophones and flute (1994–2005)
- Jerry Jeff Walker – Guitar, background vocals, composer
- Lanny Fiel – Guitar
- Rick Fiel – Bass guitar
- Dave Haney – Bass guitar
- Paul Tabet – Drums
- Bergen White – Trombone
- Daniel "Stiles" Francisco – Trumpet
- Bobby Thompson – Banjo
- Hamilton Camp – Guitar
- Doug Bartenfeld – Guitar
- Jay Oliver – Keyboards
- Randy Goodrum – Keyboards
- Buzz Cason – Keyboards, background vocals
- Don Kloetzke – Background vocals
- Michael Jeffry – lead guitar, harmony vocals
- Josh Leo – guitar
- Vince Melamed – keyboards
- Tony Pace – Drums
- "Blind" Jay Spell – keyboards – (Died 2011)
- Mary Harris – Background vocals and vocal arrangements.
- Barry Chance – lead guitar, background vocals (Died 2010)
- Hadley Hockensmith – Bass
- Claudia Cummings – Background vocals (1991–1997; December 23, 1960 - October 31, 2023)
- Andy McMahon – Organ, Fender Rhodes
- Bob Naylor – Mouth Organ, backing vocals
- Matt Betton – Drums
- M.L. Benoit – Congas and percussion, background vocals
- David Briggs – Piano
- Dr. Kino Bachellier – Shakers and French
- Norbert Putnam – Upright bass
- Dominic Cortese – Accordion
- Deborah McColl – Background vocals
- Rich Calhoun - Drums
- David "Cool" Persons – Guitars, Vocals
- Reggie Young – Electric lead guitar
- Mike Gardner – Drums – (Died 1991)
- Ed "Lump" Williams – Bass guitar
- Sammy Creason – Drums
- Phil Royster – Congas
- Johnny Gimble – Fiddle
- Shane Keister – Moog synthesizer
- Vassar Clements – Fiddle
- Ferrell Morris – Percussion
- Larry Lee – Guitar, Drums, Keyboards
- Tim Krekel – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Brie Howard – Percussion, Vocals
- Russ Kunkel – Drums
- Keith Sykes – Guitar
Timeline
Honorary members and special guests
Many artists have recorded and/or appeared on stage with Buffett, earning them status as honorary Coral Reefers.[6] Some of the more notable names are listed here.
References
- ^ Steve Eng (October 15, 1997). Jimmy Buffett: The Man from Margaritaville Revealed. St. Martin's Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-312-16875-9.
- ^ "The Hub Where Buffett Met "Fingers"". Read the Plaque. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Varga, George (September 2, 2023). "Jimmy Buffett, dead at 76: His final concert with his band was on May 6 in San Diego. Here's our review". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Newman, Melinda (October 30, 2023). "Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band Plans to 'Party On' Following Singer's Death". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ Paul, Larisha (October 31, 2023). "Coral Reefer Band Will 'Keep the Party Going' in Honor of Jimmy Buffett". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
- ^ "BuffettNews.com – The Coral Reefer Band". October 27, 2007. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
