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Jimmy's work as a playwright was in full swing, adapting Pulitzer Prize winning author Herman Wouk's Don't Stop The Carnival to a musical. For those uninitiated, Don't Stop the Carnival is the timeless story of a man seeking the mythical simpler life in the islands. Jimmy read the book years ago and knew from his personal travels how typical the story was. Jimmy met with Herman Wouk and a personal and professional relationship was born - along with the musical Don't Stop The Carnival. "It's a book I'd go back and re-read. Herman went away and didn't realize the impact he'd left on the Caribbean culture. Hotel owners that I run into, anybody that lives and exists in the Caribbean knows Don't Stop The Carnival. It's like a bible. But he had no idea this was going on. Carnival is a cornerstone of the Jimmy Buffett mythology. I put it right up there with the movie Donovan's Reef, Gardner Mckay and the schooner Tiki, and 'To Have and Have Not.' All of these early influences snuck into my songs." Herman Wouk has written the libretto for the musical and Jimmy has composed the music and the lyrics.

In September, 1997 Jimmy was invited to participate in "an exceptional concert at London's Royal Albert Hall." Music for Montserrat, an all-star event organized by Sir George and Lady Martin will raise funds for the victims of the Soufriere volcano on the island of Montserrat. The volcano has been in a continuous state of eruption since July 1995. The artists confirmed represent rock n' roll royalty: Eric Clapton, Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney and Sting. Sir George Martin stated, "I have often been asked why I chose Montserrat as a location for a sophisticated modern recording studio. The answer was simple. I fell in love with the place and the people." Jimmy recorded the gold selling album, Volcano at Air Studios Montserrat in 1979.

The legendary Brian Wilson; composer, producer, arranger and performer of some of the most cherished music in rock history, returns to raise the creative bar yet again with a stunning new collection of songs co-written with some of today's most respected lyricists. Jimmy's contribution to the Imagination album was the song South American. Brian Wilson and Joe Thomas recorded the music track and then came to Key West to record with Jimmy. Thomas recalls, "Jimmy didn't have anything on paper. We couldn't even find him at first. Then he just flew in on his seaplane, sat down with Brian and bam, they worked it right out."

The Big Guy made one of his all too rare appearances at the Key West cafe, "I'm on my way to Cuba to report on the Pope's visit for Rolling Stone Magazine, so I thought I'd drop by."

Pope John Paul II made an historic visit to Cuba in January 1998. It is the first time a pope has visited the island nation ever and the first time he was welcome since Fidel Castro rose to power in the Communist Revolution of 1959. Jimmy sent reports from the front line to the Coconut Telegraph.

"Departed Key West for Habana. I don't know if it's El Nino or Pope John Paul's doing, but we have an amazing night to cross the Gulf Stream. The stars are out and we are following the blinking lights of the Key West ship channel south."

Wednesday, 01/21/98: This is not a normal day in Habana. Fidel gave everybody the day off, with pay, to welcome the Pope and the preparations are very visible. Juan Pablo, as he is called down here, is hanging from buildings and plastered on signs all along the main route. We move to Miramar, it is a tarnished version of Coral Gables and A1A in Palm Beach. A lot of "tear downs" and "fixer uppers," and cops everywhere. Boy are they young.

Thursday, 01/22/98: The average Cuban can not go to tourist clubs or hotel bars, so they gather at night along the Malecon with a bottle of white rum and a guitar and sing to the ocean. It reminded me of a time in my life when I used to do exactly the same thing in Key West on Mallory Square.

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