Elton John pays tribute to late Jimmy Buffett following news of his death
Sir Elton John has paid tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett following the news this weekend that the singer-songwriter passed away recently surrounded by his loved ones.
It was announced earlier that Jimmy - who is best known for songs such as Margaritaville and Cheeseburger in Paradise - passed away, aged 76, on Friday. The news was shared in a statement on social media accounts for him on Saturday.
The statement read: "Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1 surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs. He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many."
The news has prompted an outpouring of tributes to the late musician, who often performed alongside the Coral Reefer Band. Fans have expressed condolences on social media following the statement having been released.
Sir Elton has been among those who have paid tribute to Jimmy, with him taking to his Instagram Story earlier in reaction to the news. He shared the post that announced Jimmy's death, which featured a photo of him on a boat.
Sir Elton John's fee for a private gig rockets to 'a whopping £4million'He wrote alongside it: "Jimmy Buffet was a unique and treasured entertainer. His fans adored him and he never let them down." Sir Elton continued on the platform earlier: "This is the saddest of news, a lovely man gone way too soon."
His post concluded by expressing condolences to Jimmy's wife Jane and their family, which includes the couple's three children Savannah, Sarah and Cameron. Sir Elton wrote: "Condolences to Jane and the family from David and me."
Although it's understood that Sir Elton and Jimmy didn't release any music together, they did both appear in the televised charity concert Music for Montserrat in 1997. They didn't perform together but were both in the line-up for the event.
Sir Elton also featured Jimmy's version of the song Christmas Island on his compilation album Elton John's Christmas Party, which was originally released in 2005. It's said to have included some of his "favorite holiday songs by other artists".
The following year, Sir Elton released the album The Captain & the Kid, which shares its name with a song from Jimmy's album Down to Earth. The latter was Jimmy's debut studio album and had originally been released back in 1970.
Jimmy enjoyed a decades-long career in the music industry, with him having also venturing in writing and business over the years. Among his best known songs are the likes of Come Monday, A Pirate Looks at Forty and Volcano.
Fans paid tribute on social media this weekend, with one person writing: "His music has the ability to transport your soul to a better place, if only for 3 minutes at a time. The world is better for him being in it." Whilst another said: "Thank you for the many years of music that you have blessed this world with. May your memory live on forever."