Jimmy Buffett has died.
Photo: Taste of Country Jimmy Buffett, the musician and singer who made flip flops, tropical shirts, and beach bum attitude cool, had died. He was 76. Cause of death was skin cancer diagnosed 4 years ago. Jimmy was born in Mississippi and raised in the port city of Mobile, Alabama. Growing up, he was close to his grandfather who would take him sailing. This would later would impact his musical style. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated with a degree in history. Jimmy moved to Nashville where he pursued country music. After a chance meeting with country musician Jerry Jeff Walker, the two went to Key West, Florida. This is when Jimmy began to establish his beach-bum persona. He played in local bars and began experimenting musically by combining country music, folk, rock, calypso, and pop music into his own style. His big break came when his friend and fellow musician Jim Croce died tragically and his record label tapped