Buffett visits Truman

[clonei09]

I was just surfing the Navy news site and came across this http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=54879 and many other pictures. I guess Jimmy Buffett played a concert on the USS Harry S. Truman. As a longtime parrothead I wish I could have been there. I was wondering if anyone on here had any more info about how the visit went? I know the last time he played on a carrier was in the 80's or 90's when the ship was in the Caribbean somewhere, presumably off Puerto Rico. At the time Buffett had an close friend of his who was an admiral and the deal was Buffett would play the concert if he got a flight out in a tomcat. Also it was his emergency water egress survival training he received prior to the tomcat flight that Buffett credits with saving his life years later when he crashed his seaplane in Nantucket Harbor during its take off. Another interesting side note to this would to hear any interesting sea stories that any of you have with regards to famous or interesting VIPs or celebrities that have visited you.

 

[schwarti]

I saw the photo of this, too - would've liked to have seen that.

 

[Lawman]

I saw Buffet once in Cincy. I cant remember the middle third of the concert. All I remember about the last third was making out with some strange but hot woman. What a good time.

 

[nittany03]

Praying I get a chance to see him in concert before he retires/kicks the bucket. I think I'd kill myself if I blacked out for any part of it, though . . .

 

[Mumbles]

There's a vid out there of him climbing out of the back seat of a blue angel and he's absolutely green....and has puke all over his bag!! I think it's pretty old.

 

[Uncle Fester]

JB's always been a big pro-Navy guy, but supposedly his people got into it with the USO people over the cashey money, and thus he don't do USO shows no more. Shame, because you can't beat Buffett for a live show.

Edit: just looked at that link, and noticed it's a new picture. Perhaps I stand corrected? Or maybe he just visited da Boat, didn't play a show?

 

[Pugs]

Praying I get a chance to see him in concert before he retires/kicks the bucket. I think I'd kill myself if I blacked out for any part of it, though . . .

Never been to a formal concert but Circa 87 I was in the Bama (lounge AND package doncha' know) and he was in there and got up on stage and played for an hour or so. Place was pretty empty when he started but word got out quick and by the end it was packed.

Living within stumbling distance of the Florabama for a year (before my roomie got E-2's) was one of brighter things I never planned

 

[HeyJoe]

I was just surfing the Navy news site and came across this http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=54879 and many other pictures. I guess Jimmy Buffett played a concert on the USS Harry S. Truman. As a longtime parrothead I wish I could have been there. I was wondering if anyone on here had any more info about how the went? I know the last time he played on a carrier was in the 80's or 90's when the ship was in the Caribbean somewhere, presumably off Puerto Rico. At the time Buffett had an close friend of his who was an admiral and the deal was Buffett would play the concert if he got a flight out in a tomcat. Also it was his emergency water egress survival training he received prior to the tomcat flight that Buffett credits with saving his life years later when he crashed his seaplane in Nantucket Harbor during its take off. Another interesting side note to this would to hear any interesting sea stories that any of you have with regards to famous or interesting VIPs or celebrities that have visited you.

Jimmy Buffett has been a longtime friend of Read Admiral "Red" Best (no slouch with a six sting himself hence the connection) and has been on carriers many, many times as well as bagging flights. His connection with Tomcats was from numerous Key West ACM Dets by VF-101. I was on USS America provding Sopwith Camel DET* support in 1984 while ship was supporting training command CQ staging out of Key West. Since Bears were quiet, it was JOPA BOREX watching movies in Ready Room all day hoping that orange and white aircraft would finish early and Boss would let us run the deck. One afternoon, the COD arrived with Jimmy Buffett who just came out to ride the boat for awhile. We were assigned to static display of a Tomcat in the Hangar Bay. A sharp, motivated trooper saw this and ran to his berthing and came back with a six string and held it out to him asking if he'd mind playing a song or two. Two other guys ran and got theirs and asked to sit in so, in no time, it was Jimmy unplugged with crowd gathering as word spread. Totally unplanned and unannounced and totally cool.


*Back then, Soviet Tu-95 Bears would transit East Coast to and from Cuba weekly and no carrier was allowed to be exposed without fighter escort so Sopwith Camel DETs (E-2, KA-6D tanker, and 6 Tomcats) were always onboard whenever carrier was outside range of Oceana (Sopwith Camel duty could also be pulled at NAS Oceana; which was better unless Boss let you run the deck).

 

[HeyJoe]

JB's always been a big pro-Navy guy, but supposedly his people got into it with the USO people over the cashey money, and thus he don't do USO shows no more. Shame, because you can't beat Buffett for a live show.

Edit: just looked at that link, and noticed it's a new picture. Perhaps I stand corrected? Or maybe he just visited da Boat, didn't play a show?

There's a bunch of Pix on Navy Newsstand of recent visit to Truman where he did play:

(Jan. 28, 2008) Recording artist Jimmy Buffett gives the sign to "hang loose" after stepping off an SH-60 Seahawk, assigned to the "Dusty Dogs" of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (HS) 7, aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during a recent port visit in the Middle East. Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 are on a scheduled deployment supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin Losack (Released)

(Jan. 28, 2008) Recording artist Jimmy Buffett looks up to speak with a Sailor during an autograph signing session on the mess decks aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Buffett performed a USO concert for the crew of the Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3. The Truman is on a scheduled deployment supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jay C. Pugh (Released)

(Jan. 28, 2008) Recording artists Jimmy Buffett, right, and Mac Macnally, a member of the "Coral Reefer Band," perform a USO concert for the Sailors of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) during a recent port visit in the Middle East. Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 are underway on a scheduled deployment supporting Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Michael W. Pendergrass (Released)

 

[phrogpilot73]

I've never been lucky enough to participate in a USO concert while underway. The ship had them, but we were ashore...

 

[Uncle Fester]

Well, shit hot. Glad I was incorrect on that one. I wondered if maybe some asshat in the Pentagon got in a bullshit "Right Spirit" snit about inviting a performer who advocates alcohol abuse or some nonsense like that. "Mr Buffett, please don't sing that song about Margaritaburg or whatever it is...we don't want our sailors thinking drinking is glamorous".

Noted one thing on pic #2, on the nametag... "Brillo"? What's the story behind that?

That Sopwith Camel Det thing sounds like one of the many things we're going to have to learn how to do all over again, what with Vladimir sending his boys on long-range flights again and all. I'd imagine Raul Castro and Chavez would be glad to have them.

 

[Single Seat]

Damn, I wish he'd come out to visit us on cruise. Although hearing him play just wouldn't have been the same without a margarita.

 

[clonei09]

Heyjoe,

That must have been an awesome time listening to an improptu Buffett unplugged concert while riding around a carrier in the carribbean. The only way to beat that would be actually sitting in a carribbean bar on teh beach with a few adult beverages and hearing him play. I have been to a few of his concerts and they are a blast, the tailgating is some of the best fun. Even non Buffett friends I have brought have come away really enjoying themselves

 

[Mumbles]

Noted one thing on pic #2, on the nametag... "Brillo"? What's the story behind that?

I'm pretty sure the reference is to the "pencil thin mustache" song....the lyrics are "brill cream...a little dab will do ya"...I don't know for sure. May be a stretch.

 

[HuggyU2]

I'm sure everyone knows this, but it's pretty cool that JB is also an accomplished seaplane pilot. He had a bad crash about 10 years ago,... I think it was in his Albatross. Anyone know if that's the same plane that's on static display in Orlando?