Meet Jane, Jimmy Buffett’s Wife Of 46 Years

Let's meet Jimmy Buffett's wife of 46 years her name is Jane Slagsvol and if you're like a lot of Jimmy's fans, you probably have never seen her before now. When Jimmy Buffett passed away on September 1st we felt as though we lost a friend. A fellow pirate in the sea battle of life in the 20th and 21st centuries. His music was the soundtrack to the lives of people in search of that mystical "Margaritaville". At the same time he was a mystery to many.

When we think of Jimmy Buffett, we picture him on either a boat in the Caribbean or a flying a private plane to another island adventure. Or perhaps we think of him in a funky bar in Key West regaling the crowd with his stories of sailing the high seas... well, high. Did you ever think that he was married 46 years to the same woman? I never did. Although if you saw him in concert you may have seen him with one of his two daughters Savanah.

According to People Magazine Buffett and Slagsvol met in Key West, Florida, in the early '70s. Slagsvol was a student at the University of South Carolina and had gone to the popular vacation destination for her spring break. She met Buffett at the Chart Room bar, and they had an immediate connection.

The singer told TIME magazine in 1998 that the next time he saw her, she was “wearing a tight, long pink dress that made a lasting impression on me.” They moved in together shortly after and got married in 1977.

Their eldest daughter, Savannah, was born on June 1, 1979, not long after the couple got married. They welcomed their second daughter together, Sarah, who goes by Delaney, after their reconciliation on April 1, 1992. They then adopted their son, Cameron, who was born in 1994.

It’s no surprise that Buffett had written at least one song for his wife. According to the biography Jimmy Buffett: A Good Life All The Way, his 1978 hit song “Come Monday” was written for Slagsvol while he was in L.A. on tour and she was back in Key West.

Buffett found himself missing her and wrote the song about that feeling. It includes lyrics like, “Come Monday, it’ll be alright / Come Monday, I’ll be holding you tight / I spent four lonely days in brown L.A. haze /And I just want you back by my side.” Slagsvol also appeared in the music video.

Jimmy Buffett fans react to his death with nothing but beach-bum love. One Massachusetts fan said on WCVB: "Leave it to Jimmy to pass away on a three day weekend, to have an extra day in Margaritaville."

Not a bad thing has even been said of Jimmy Buffett. Bob Seger said: "Sunshine personified. I've never met a human being that didn't like him." That's hard to find in show business.

KTLA Los Angeles entertainment reporter Sam Rubin said it best:

There's a lot more to Jimmy Buffett than just Margaritaville. Extraordinary success amplifies who you really are. If you're a nice guy like Jimmy Buffett was, it amplifies what a nice guy he was. 

It's the true, the takeaway to Jimmy's death are in the tributes pouring in. From the biggest movie and TV stars, the biggest music stars, entertainment CEO's, former presidents, and athletes, they all agree. Jimmy was the real deal. He was simply a nice guy.

Why was Jimmy such a nice guy?

It was a quiet weekend afternoon on the water in beautiful Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Then out of nowhere, the iconic Jimmy Buffett SHOCKS Rhode Island. 

It really was. Imagine this: on a July weekend, (it was LAST July) you and some friends are enjoying a relaxing cocktail at the cozy Sunset Cove Restaurant in lovely Portsmouth Rhode Island. On the intimate by-the-water stage, is an artist named Mac McAnally. He jumps in to a familiar, favorite song. It was one that almost everyone knows. It was It’s Five O’clock Somewhere, a song made well known by Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson. As Mac was performing the song, he sang the familiar lyric:

….At a moment like this, I can’t help but wonder what would JIMMY BUFFETT DO?

At that exact moment, before a stunned concert crowd, OUT WALKS JIMMY BUFFETT, to continue singing HIS SONG!!! As you can imagine, people in the audience were pinching themselves, wondering if they had TOO MUCH TO DRINK! How can it be? Jimmy Buffett, TEN FEET AWAY? It was true!

What you may or may not know, is that Mac McAnally is a long time member of Jimmy’s band, The Coral Reefers. Since May of this year, Jimmy has been resting, in all sorts of places, after a surprise routine visit to his doctor here in Boston, pulled him OFF the road.

The July holiday weekend found Jimmy resting in Long Island. Reportedly, Jimmy has a place in Sag Harbor. So, when he heard about his pal Mac, playing across Long Island Sound, what did he do? Jimmy, a licensed pilot, hopped into his plane, and piloted, himself to Rhode Island, landing in Newport. He called Mac ahead of time to arrange for someone to pick him up at the Newport airport. It gets better. Mac’s driver dropped off Jimmy at a nearby boat marina, so Jimmy could secretly boat to the on-the water stage of the Sunset Cove Restaurant. This way, he was already BACKSTAGE at the venue without being noticed! Pure showbiz! Everything went perfect! After Jimmy’s appearance, he flew himself, back home, leaving Rhode Island SHOCKED!

As we see how Jimmy Buffett fans react to his death, one thing is clear, he will be remembered, as not just an music icon, business mogul, best selling author. All of that maybe trumped. He maybe remembered as being a nice guy. Isn't that the most important way to go? Jimmy, we are toasting you, this long three day weekend. Leave it to you to make sure we remember you, on a three day party weekend, wasting away in Margaritaville.

Sam comments on Jimmy getting a final visit from Paul McCartney, who sang to him and his family.

I hope I get this quote when my adventure on Earth comes to a close.

Well said Jimmy. If you let the grief stop you from moving forward, like a wave behind the boat, it can sink you.

Isn't that what he would have wanted? These two look like life long Parrot-heads!

He was loved around the world, one Margarita at a time.

Beach Boys, Al Jardine checks in to share his love for the original beach bum.

You never know. This fan saw Jimmy LIVE, this past May.

Read the whole tweet from Paul McCartney, on his friend, Jimmy Buffett. You can feel Paul's love come through. 8 million people have already read it.