Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band Completes Posthumous Album With Unreleased Tracks From Two Decades

Nearly three years after Jimmy Buffett’s passing in September 2023, the music legend’s legacy continues to grow in unexpected ways. The Coral Reefer Band, alongside producers Mac McAnally and Michael Utley, has just completed a posthumous album filled with previously unreleased tracks spanning from 2003 to approximately 2022. These songs were created for television shows, movies, and concert tours over nearly two decades, but somehow never found their way onto an official Jimmy Buffett album until now. McAnally told Billboard that the team is genuinely excited about the collection, noting that you can hear Buffett’s trademark smile throughout every recording.

What makes this project particularly special is how the Coral Reefers are honoring their late bandleader while keeping his music alive. Currently on a summer headlining tour through August 8, the band is already performing one of the new tracks,“Workin’n’Playin’,”as a duet featuring Buffett’s vocals alongside the band. Even more touching: they’re leaving his microphone empty on stage every night as a tribute, creating a powerful moment that resonates with fans who spent decades watching Buffett perform. McAnally emphasized that this isn’t about replacing Buffett—it’s about the band members, all of whom he hand-selected during his lifetime, continuing to honor the man who shaped their careers.

The album’s completion also comes as Key West approved Buffett’s legendary Shrimp Boat Sound Studio to operate as both a working recording studio and tourist destination, similar to the famous Muscle Shoals Sound in Alabama. This means fans will soon have the opportunity to visit the very place where much of Buffett’s most iconic music was created. While no official title or release date has been announced yet, producers are promising that the music is finished and“really good.”Are you ready to hear these hidden gems, or does the thought of new Jimmy Buffett music feel surreal?