♫Way Beyond Margaritaville♫

Awakenings began Music Through the Centuries from the 1600s to the 1800s in November, 2013 with the music going on beating to the rhythm of the changing times. Each period of time carries its own music of the century but there is one century whose music underwent radical changes decade by decade, the 20th Century...Music in Leisure Times (1900-1909), Ragging into the 1910s (1910-1919), Roaring into the 20s (1920-1929), Swinging into the 30s (1930-1939), Still Swinging in the 40s (1940-1949), Leading up to the 50s, Rockin' in the 50s, Rollin', Too! (1950-1959), Birth of Rock 'n' Roll, 60s Music Revolution, Spirit of the 60s Music, Stuck in the 70s, Generations of Country Music, 80s Music Mania, Taste of Country, continuing into 2014 with Best of the 90s and Best of 90s Country Time. Then, came the Music into the 21st Century, Contemporary & Classical, and spotlights on specific events and recording artists in music history.

That brings us up-to-date with today's spotlight shining on a well known folk country singer and songwriter of the 70s. But, don't think for a moment that his music stopped there! A bit of music trivia takes us back to 1996 but also a look at his two most popular songs.

Today in Music History: January 16

Welcome into the Spotlight...

Before he was the mayor of Margaritaville. . .

James William "Jimmy" Buffett: an American singer–songwriter, author, actor, and businessman best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle, and the often humorous things he has experienced throughout his life

Jimmy Buffet's first album, 1970's Down to Earth, sold a whopping 324 copies. Barnaby Records then temporarily misplaced the master tape of his second album before its release. By 1972, Nashville was left behind in the dust, as well as a failed marriage, as he headed south to Key West. With such misadventures as supporting himself by smuggling a little marijuana from the Caribbean and developing his drunken-sailor persona, Jimmy Buffett found his niche. The rest is history with Buffett's commercial breakthrough coming in 1977. Ever heard of "Margaritaville" (1977) or "Cheeseburger in Paradise" (1978)? No one could come through the 70s without attachment to either of these songs! They are classics of the era.

The 1985 compilation Songs You Know by Heart (subtitled Jimmy Buffet's Greatest Hit[s] in self-mocking reference to the fact that "Margaritaville" was his only major pop hit) sold 2 million copies; 1992's Boats Beaches Bars & Ballads also went platinum. By that time Buffett had established a Margaritaville empire, including a record label and Margaritaville Store and Café outlets in Key West, New Orleans, Orlando, and Charleston. He wrote three best-selling books: Tales From Margaritaville, a collection of short stories; the novel Where Is Joe Merchant?; and the memoir A Pirate Looks at Fifty, which made Buffett only the sixth author ever to top both the fiction and nonfiction lists. Read MORE from Rolling Stone...

For this day in history, a bit of Jimmy Buffett trivia...

1996 Jamaican authorities opened fire on Jimmy Buffett's seaplane "Hemisphere Dancer", mistaking it for a drug trafficker's plane. U2 singer Bono was also on the plane; neither singer was injured in the incident. The incident inspired Buffett to write a song called 'Jamaica Mistaica'.

No.1 hits on this day...
[Click on the year for the songs that hit number one on the charts in the US during that year.]

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  1956 Tennessee Ernie Ford was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with his version of the Merle Travis coal-mining song 'Sixteen Tons.' Written in 1947 about the misery of coal mining. It was a No.1 hit in the US for 7 weeks, November 20, 1955 - January 7, 1956.

• 1974 The New Seekers were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their second and final UK No.1 single 'You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me'. They achieved worldwide success with this song, which remained in the US top five over Christmas 1973.

• 1977  One half of TV cop show "Starsky & Hutch" (he was blonde Hutch), David Soul went to No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Don't Give Up On Us'. Also a No.1 in the US.

  
  
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  1982 Bucks Fizz were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with their second No.1 'Land Of Make Believe' and became one of the top-selling groups of the 1980s. The lyrics to the song were written by ex-King Crimson member Peter Sinfield.

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  1988 24 years after The Beatles first topped the chart, George Harrison went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Got My Mind Set On You' an old favorite of George's that was originally recorded by James Ray in 1962. In the UK, Harrison's version spent four weeks at No.2.

No.1 album on this day...

1988 George Michael went to No.1 on the US album charts with his debut solo album 'Faith'. It went on to sell over 8 million copies. 

1988 Tina Turner gave herself a place in the record books when she performed in front of 182,000 people in Rio De Janeiro. The largest audience ever for a single artist.

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...