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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).
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 | |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Labels | |
| Members |
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| Past members | |
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] reiterating statements made by bandmate Robert Greenidge in a separate interview on September 9, 2023.[5]
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.[6] At the concert, McAnally introduced Scotty Emerick as a full-time member of the group.
In May 2024, the band played their first full show after Buffett's death (not counting the Hollywood Bowl tribute concert) at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, where they were joined by guest Sonny Landreth, who had also worked alongside Buffett and the band on various occasions before Buffett's death.[6]
In June, the band announced they would be doing three shows in August as part of the "Keep The Party Going" tour, at the Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach, Alabama, on August 1st; the Cadence Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park in Atlanta, Georgia on August 2nd; and the Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio on August 4th.[6][7] Proceeds from these shows went to the Buffett-founded nonprofit charity "Singing for a Change."[7] Will Kimbrough, one of Buffett's occasional collaborators and songwriting partners, joined the band at this time.[7] All three shows were sold-out or close to sellouts including over 15,000 people attending the Cincinnati show. The band indicated more dates would be added in the future. As of December 2024, one show has been announced for 2025, on January 24 at the Hard Rock Hotel’s Etess Arena in Atlantic City, NJ.[8]
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As of 2024, the band's lineup consists of:[9][10][11][12][7]
- Doyle Grisham – pedal steel guitar (1974–1976, 1981, 1998–present)
- Michael Utley – keyboards (1975–present)
- Robert Greenidge – steel drums (1983–present)[5]
- 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 vocals, harmony and backing 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 - lead vocals, harmony and backing vocals, guitar (2023–present)[6][7]
- Will Kimbrough – lead vocals, harmony and backing vocals, guitar (2024-present; occasional guest 2003-2023)[7]
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Former members of the Coral Reefer Band include:[13]
- 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
- Angel L Quinones Jr - congas and percussion (1993-1994) - recorded on Fruitcakes
- Penny Nichols (December 26, 1947 – October 29, 2017) - Background vocals, including on Son of a Son of a Sailor
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Many artists have recorded and/or appeared on stage with Buffett, earning them status as honorary Coral Reefers.[14] 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 (2012)[15][16]
- 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
- J.J. Watt – percussion
- Alan Jackson – vocals
- Earl Klugh – guitar
- Nicolette Larsen – vocals
- Roy Orbison – vocals
- Bill Payne – Keyboard
- Miranda Lambert - vocals
- JD Souther – backing vocals
- Sonny Landreth – slide guitar
- Freddie Buffett – background vocals
- Ilo Ferreira – vocals, guitar
- Zac Brown – guitar and vocals
- Bill Kreutzmann – drums
- Ric Flair – drums and background "woo's"
- Brian Wilson – vocals
- Eric Kincaid – bus driver
- Jake Shimabukuro – ukulele (2005–2009, 2024)
- Caroline Jones - harmony and backing vocals, guitar (2017-2019, 2024)
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'With Jimmy Buffett
- A Pink Crustacean Tour (1976)[17]
- Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes Tour (1977)[18]
- Cheeseburger in Paradise Tour (1978)[19]
- You Had to Be There Tour / Volcano Tour (1979)[20]
- A Hot Dog & A Road Map Tour (1980)[21]
- Coconut Telegraph Tour (1981)[22]
- Somewhere over China Tour (with broken leg) (1982)[23]
- Homecoming Tour (1982)[23]
- The Six-Stop American Tour (1983)[24]
- Feeding Frenzy Tour (1984)[25]
- Last Mango in Paris Tour (1985)[26]
- Floridays Tour / World Tour of Florida (1986)[27]
- A Parrot Looks at Forty Tour (1987)[28]
- Cheap Vacation Tour / Hot Water Tour (1988)[29]
- Off to See the Lizard Tour / Buffett Does Ballads Tour (1989)[30]
- Jimmy's Jump Up Tour (1990)[31]
- Outpost Tour (1991)[32]
- Recession Recess Tour (1992)[33]
- Chameleon Caravan Tour (1993)[34]
- Fruitcakes Tour (1994)[35]
- Domino College Tour (1995)[36]
- Banana Wind Tour (1996)[37]
- Havana Daydreamin' Tour (1997)[38]
- Don't Stop the Carnival Tour (1998)[39]
- Beach House on the Moon Tour (1999)[40]
- Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays Tour (2000)[41]
- A Beach Odyssey Tour (2001)[42]
- Far Side of the World Tour (2002)[43]
- Tiki Time Tour (2003)[44]
- License to Chill Tour (2004)[45]
- A Salty Piece of Land Tour (2005)[46]
- Party at the End of the World Tour (2006)[47]
- Bama Breeze Tour (2007)[48]
- Year of Still Here Tour (2008)[49]
- Summerzcool Tour (2009)[50]
- Under the Big Top Tour (2010)[51]
- Welcome to Fin Land Tour (2011)[52]
- Lounging at the Lagoon Tour (2012–13)[53]
- Songs from St. Somewhere Tour (2013–14)[54]
- This One's for You Tour (2014–15)[55]
- Workin' n' Playin' Tour (2015–16)[56]
- I Don't Know Tour (2016–18)[57][58]
- Son of a Son of a Sailor Tour (2018–19)[59][60]
- Life on the Flip Side Tour (2021–22)[61][62]
- Second Wind Tour (2023)[63]
Without Jimmy Buffett
- Keep the Party Going Tour (2024-2025)
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