Coral Reefer Band

Touring and recording act of Jimmy Buffett

The Coral Reefer Band

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band perform during their Summerzcool Tour in June 2009.

Background information
Origin| U.S.
Genres|

* Country rock[1]
* Gulf and Western

Years active| 1974–present
Labels|

* Candix
* Capitol
* Brother
* Reprise
* Caribou
* CBS

Members|

* Michael Utley
* Mac McAnally
* Robert Greenidge
* Peter Mayer
* Jim Mayer
* Roger Guth
* Doyle Grisham
* John Lovell
* Tina Gullickson
* Nadirah Shakoor
* Eric Darken

Past members|

* Jimmy Buffett
* see list of former members

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]

## Current line-up[edit]

As of 2023, 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 – lead and harmony and backing vocals, rhythm and lead and slide guitars, dobro (1994–present)
* Tina Gullickson – harmony and backing vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar (1995–present)
* Nadirah Shakoor – harmony and backing and lead vocals (1995–present)
* Eric Darken – percussion (2011–present)

## Former members[edit]

Other former members of the Coral Reefer Band include:

* Jimmy Buffett – Vocals, rhythm guitar, ukulele (1974–2023; died 2023)
* Roger Bartlett – 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)
* 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"
* 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)
* T.C. Mitchell – saxophones and flute (1994–2005)
* Amy Lee – saxophone. Co-writer of "Fruitcakes". (1991–2005)
* Mary Harris – Background vocals and vocal arrangements.
* Barry Chance – lead guitar, background vocals (Died 2010)
* Hadley Hockensmith – Bass
* Claudia Cummings – Background vocals
* 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
* Sam Clayton – Backing Vocals, Congas, Percussion (1982–1988)
* Larry Lee – Guitar, Drums, Keyboards
* Tim Krekel – lead guitar, backing vocals
* Brie Howard – Percussion, Vocals
* Russ Kunkel – Drums
* Keith Sykes – Guitar

## Timeline[edit]

## Honorary members and special guests[edit]

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.

* Paul McCartney – vocals, bass
* James Taylor – vocals
* Grover Washington Jr. – saxophone
* The Oak Ridge Boys – vocals
* Sean Payton – bongos
* Clint Black – vocals, harmonica
* Ed Bradley – vocals, tambourine
* Rita Coolidge – vocals
* Steve Cropper – guitar
* Huey Lewis – vocals, harmonica
* Sheryl Crow – vocals
* Steve Winwood – vocals, organ
* Harrison Ford – whip cracks
* Glenn Frey – guitar, background vocals
* Steve Goodman – guitar
* John Hiatt – guitar
* Will Kimbrough – guitar
* J.J. Watt – percussion
* Alan Jackson – vocals
* Earl Klugh – guitar
* Nicolette Larsen – vocals
* Roy Orbison – vocals
* Bill Payne – Keyboard
* Miranda Lambert \- vocals
* J.D. Souther – backing vocals
* Sonny Landreth – slide guitar
* Freddie Buffett – background vocals
* Ilo Ferreira – vocals, guitar
* Jake Shimabukuro – Ukulele (2005–2009)
* Zac Brown – guitar and vocals
* Bill Kreutzmann – drums
* Ric Flair – drums and background "woo's"
* Brian Wilson – vocals
* Eric Kincaid - Bus Driver

## References[edit]

1. ^ Steve Eng (October 15, 1997). Jimmy Buffett: The Man from Margaritaville Revealed. St. Martin's Press. p. 226\. ISBN 978-0-312-16875-9.
2. ^ "The Hub Where Buffett Met "Fingers"". Read the Plaque. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
3. ^ 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.
4. ^ Newman, Melinda (October 30, 2023). "Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band Plans to 'Party On' Following Singer's Death". Billboard. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
5. ^ Paul, Larisha (October 31, 2023). "Coral Reefer Band Will 'Keep the Party Going' in Honor of Jimmy Buffett". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
6. ^ "BuffettNews.com – The Coral Reefer Band". October 27, 2007. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2020.

* v
* t
* e

Jimmy Buffett

Coral Reefer Band|

* Michael Utley
* Greg "Fingers" Taylor
* Mac McAnally
* Robert Greenidge
* Deborah McColl
* Jim Mayer
* Peter Mayer
* Roger Guth
* Ralph MacDonald

Studio albums|

* Down to Earth
* High Cumberland Jubilee
* A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean
* Living and Dying in 3/4 Time
* A1A
* Havana Daydreamin'
* Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
* Son of a Son of a Sailor
* Volcano
* Coconut Telegraph
* Somewhere over China
* One Particular Harbour
* Riddles in the Sand
* Last Mango in Paris
* Floridays
* Hot Water
* Off to See the Lizard
* Fruitcakes
* Barometer Soup
* Banana Wind
* Beach House on the Moon
* Far Side of the World
* License to Chill
* Take the Weather with You
* Buffet Hotel
* Songs from St. Somewhere
* Life on the Flip Side
* Songs You Don't Know by Heart
* Equal Strain on All Parts

Live albums|

* You Had to Be There
* Feeding Frenzy
* Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
* Live at Texas Stadium
* encores

Sound board live albums|

* Live in Auburn, WA
* Live in Las Vegas, NV
* Live in Mansfield, MA
* Live in Cincinnati, OH
* Live in Hawaii
* Live at Fenway Park
* Live in Anguilla

Compilation albums|

* Down to Earth/High Cumberland Jubilee compilations
* Greatest hits compilations: Songs You Know by Heart
* Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads (box set)
* A Pirate's Treasure
* All the Great Hits
* The Great Jimmy Buffett
* Biloxi
* Great American Summer Fun with Jimmy Buffett (EP)
* Calaloo (EP)
* Meet Me in Margaritaville: The Ultimate Collection

Soundtrack, Christmas,
and musical albums|

* Rancho Deluxe soundtrack
* Christmas Island
* Don't Stop the Carnival (musical)
* 'Tis the SeaSon

Songs|

* "Margaritaville"
* "Come Monday"
* "A Pirate Looks at Forty"
* "Volcano"
* "Fins"
* "Cheeseburger in Paradise"
* "It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"
* "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes"
* "One Particular Harbour"
* "Why Don't We Get Drunk"
* "Southern Cross"
* "Brown Eyed Girl"
* "Son of a Son of a Sailor"
* "God's Own Drunk"
* "Pencil Thin Mustache"
* "Grapefruit—Juicy Fruit"
* "Boat Drinks"
* "Gypsies in the Palace"
* "Jamaica Mistaica"
* "He Went to Paris"
* "Knee Deep"
* "The Great Filling Station Holdup"
* "Hey, Good Lookin'"
* "Surfing in a Hurricane"
* "Trip Around the Sun"
* "Math Suks"
* "Same Boat"

Videos|

* Live by the Bay
* Music for Montserrat
* Live at Wrigley Field
* Live at Fenway Park
* Live in Anguilla

Books|

* The Jolly Mon
* Tales from Margaritaville
* Where Is Joe Merchant? A Novel Tale
* A Pirate Looks at Fifty
* A Salty Piece of Land

Commercial endeavors|

* Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
* Margaritaville merchandising
* Mailboat Records
* Cheeseburger in Paradise Restaurant
* Margaritaville Casino and Restaurant
* Land Shark Lager

Related articles|

* Jimmy Buffett discography
* Radio Margaritaville
* Hemisphere Dancer
* Savannah Buffett
* Save the Manatee Club
* Tonsil Trouble
* "Margaritaville" (South Park)
* Escape to Margaritaville

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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