A renowned musician, songwriter, author, actor and businessman, Jimmy Buffett was synonymous with his unique brand of island escapism lifestyle, a theme that seeped far beyond just his music.

Born Christmas Day 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Buffett grew up in Mobile, Alabama, and attended the University of Southern Mississippi where he began playing guitar and developing his musical style.

Blending country, folk and pop with coastal and tropical lyrical themes, Buffett first gained widespread attention in the '70s with his larger-than-life hit song, 'Margaritaville.' Featured on his 1977 album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, this artistic era marked a turning point in his career, establishing him as a popular figure in pop music and the mainstream musical arena.

With notable, career-defining songs like 'Come Monday,' 'Cheeseburger in Paradise' and 'A Pirate Looks At Forty,' he spent much of his career as the proud leader of the Parrotheads, his dedicated fandom who made it a point to don Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats at the legend's live shows.

Aside from his music career, Buffett was also a successful author, having written several best-selling books, as well as a businessman, owning the Margaritaville Cafe restaurant chain and co-developing the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant chain.