Although Summerfest had not yet announced a July 6 headline concert by Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, the show was among the worst-kept secrets in town lately.
Especially once news of the 76-year-old “Margaritaville” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise” singer’s recent hospitalization emerged and had folks speculating.
On Tuesday, Big Gig organizers released this one-sentence statement, without any context:
“More information will be provided at a later date regarding Jimmy Buffett & The Coral Reefer Band’s concert on Thursday, July 6 at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater.”
Buffett, who had a handful of announced Second Wind Tour dates on the books for 2023, posted on Facebook recently that, "I was just back from a trip to the Bahamas, thawing out from the California 'winter tour' and chomping at the bit to get to Charleston,” where he was to perform on May 20..
“I had to stop in Boston for a check-up but wound up back in the hospital to address some issues that needed immediate attention," he continued.
Buffett was admitted to the hospital for the second time in less than a year. Last September, Buffett was also hospitalized and was forced to cancel or reschedule a handful of October gigs.
Based on the statement released to today – which effectively maybe announced the concert – the show has not yet been canceled or postponed, likely because Buffett himself posted, again on Facebook, on Monday, that he will, “head home (Tuesday) for a while, and then will go for a a fishing trip with old friends, along with paddling and sailing and get myself back in good shape.
“Once I am in shape, we will look at the when’s and where’s of shows. I think playing is as therapeutic for me as it is for fans to listen and sing along. Looking forward to announcing a new date for Charleston, as well some new shows! Fins up!”
Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Jimmy, and not just because we hope to see him here on July 6.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
