New Jimmy Buffett Documentary 'Occupational Hazard' Tells the Story of the First Coral Reefers

The Jimmy Buffett most people know is the empire: the stadium shows, the margarita machines, the Parrotheads in fins and foam hats. A new documentary is going back to the version almost nobody saw.“Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers,”directed by John H. Cunningham, chronicles the original Coral Reefer Band in Key West during the mid-70s, back when Buffett was recording“Margaritaville”and“Cheeseburger in Paradise”and the band was rough, wild and completely unpolished.

Narrated by Jeff Bridges, the film packs in archival footage, interviews with original band members like Roger Bartlett, and commentary from Kenny Chesney. It tracks the band’s slow dissolution as Buffett moved toward a more professional sound, and it already earned audience awards at the Dallas International Film Festival and the Sarasota Film Festival. As Bartlett put it,“The early days were really the best days.”

“Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers”is available to rent starting Oct. 30 on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play and Fandango. Which era of your favorite artist would you most want to see documented? Tell us in the comments.