The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. Originally it was a fictional band consisting of the imaginary members Marvin Gardens, Kay Pasa, Al Vacado and Kitty Litter.
The name "Coral Reefer" alludes to both coral reefs (in line with Buffett's tropical-themed music) and also "reefer," which is slang for marijuana.
As of 2011, the band's line-up consists of:
Jimmy Buffett - guitar, vocalsMichael Utley - keyboardsRobert Greenidge - steel drumsPeter Mayer - guitar, vocalsJim Mayer - bassRoger Guth - drumsMac McAnally - guitars, vocalsDoyle Grisham - pedal steel guitarJohn Lovell - trumpetTina Gullickson - guitar, vocalsNadirah Shakoor - vocalsEric Darken- PercussionOther former members of the Coral Reefer Band include:
Ralph MacDonald - Percussion - **DeceasedJerry Jeff Walker - Guitar, background vocals, composerJohn Hiatt - GuitarLanny Fiel - GuitarRick Fiel - Bass guitarPaul Tabet - DrumsBergen White - TromboneDaniel "Stiles" Francisco - TrumpetBobby Thompson - BanjoHamilton Camp - GuitarDoug Bartenfeld - GuitarJay Oliver - KeyboardsRandy Goodrum - KeyboardsBuzz Cason - Keyboards, background vocalsDon Kloetzke - Background vocalsRoger Bartlett - Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmony vocals (the original guitarist; traveled with Jimmy as a duo in the early days)Michael Jeffry - lead guitar, harmony vocalsJosh Leo - guitarVince Melamed - keyboardsTony Pace - DrumsTimothy B. Schmit - bass, vocals (Schmit coined the term Parrotheads)"Blind" Jay Spell - keyboards - **DeceasedGreg "Fingers" Taylor - harmonica (Taylor is often introduced by Buffett as "The Original Coral Reefer Band" when he sits in now.)T.C. Mitchell - saxophones and fluteAmy Lee - saxophone and writer of the Buffett hit - FruitcakesMary Harris - Background vocals and vocal arrangements.Barry Chance - lead guitar background vocals. Deceased, May 2010Hadley Hockensmith - BassClaudia Cummings - Background vocalsAndy McMahon - Organ, Fender RhodesBob Naylor - Mouth Organ, backend vocalsHarry Dailey - Bass, background vocals. Co-writer "Volcano." Deceased, April 2003Matt Betton - DrumsM.L. Benoit - Congas and percussion, background vocalsDavid Briggs - PianoJ.D. Souther - Background vocalsDr. Kino Bachellier - Shakers and FrenchFreddie Buffett - Background vocalsNorbert Putnam - Upright bassDominic Cortese - AccordionDeborah McColl - Background vocalsReggie Young - Electric lead guitarEd "Lump" Williams - Bass guitarSammy Creason - DrumsPhil Royster - CongasJohnny Gimble - FiddleShane Keester - Moog synthesizerKenny Buttrey - Drums and PercussionVassar Clements - FiddleFerrell Morris - PercussionSam Clayton - Congas and PercussionLarry Lee - Guitar, Drums, KeyboardsTim Krekel - Guitar, Background VocalsBrie Howard - Percussion, VocalsRuss Kunkel - DrumsKeith Sykes - GuitarEric Darken - PercussionHonorary members and special guests
Many artists have recorded and/or appeared on stage with Buffett, earning them status as honorary Coral Reefers.[1] Some of the more notable names are listed here.
Paul McCartney- vocalsSean Payton - bongosClint Black - harmonicaEd Bradley - vocals, tambourineRita Coolidge - vocalsSheryl Crow - vocalsHarrison Ford - whip cracksGlenn Frey - guitar, background vocalsSteve Goodman - guitarAlan Jackson - vocalsEarl Klugh - guitarNicolette Larsen - vocalsRoy Orbison - vocalsBill Payne - KeyboardSonny Landreth - slide guitarFreedie Buffett - background vocalsIlo Ferreira - vocals, guitarJake Shimabukuro - UkuleleZac Brown - guitar and vocalsBill Kreutzmann - drumsRic Flair - drums and background "woo's"
