GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The start of September marks one year since legendary singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett died of a rare type of skin cancer. To pay tribute to the late musician, the University of Florida created a course named after one of his most beloved songs: "Son of a Son of a Sailor."
It comes at a fitting time, considering the Florida Legislature recently named Aug. 30 Jimmy Buffett Day.
Every Tuesday when the clock strikes 5:10 p.m., Instructor Melissa L. Johnson, Ph.D. will provide her students with something new to learn about the "Margaritaville" singer, whether it's about his entrepreneurial enterprises, his environmental activism or his philanthropic endeavors.
The curriculum also involves studying Buffett's musical catalog and what exactly influenced his discography. It could span as far back as 1973's "A White Sport Coat and Pink Crustacean."
“I hope that the students gain a larger appreciation of him, more than just his main songs,” Johnson said in a statement. “I want them to appreciate the depth of the music as well as what a gifted storyteller and songwriter he was, but also look at his legacy and impact — including the recent renaming of State Road A1A to Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.”
To look deeper into Buffett's legacy, students will take part in research and archival projects. That includes browsing The Independent Florida Alligator archives and the university archives, interviewing people in town and digging around the Matheson History Museum. Through these resources, students will piece together a timeline of Buffett's life — including his concerts and setlists in the Gainesville area.
"Buffett performed several times in Gainesville, starting in 1974 in the Great Southern Music Hall downtown for 400 people who were offered glasses of wine in the lobby," UF said in a news release. "He also played in the Florida Gym and the O’Connell Center."
The one-credit elective course is part of UF's (Un)Common Arts which gives honors students an interdisciplinary approach to earning their degrees. Students from various majors and class years are enrolled in the course this fall, according to the university.