FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
OCEAN SPRINGS — Will Kimbrough, a longtime protege’ and collaborator with Mississippi Gulf Coast native Jimmy Buffett, is coming to Ocean Springs.
The incomparable Kimbrough will lead off a new Fall live music series called “Friends of Buffett”, that will take place at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center. Kimbrough will appear at the inaugural show on Sun. Sept 27th.
Tickets are already on sale at https://www.grandmagmusic.com. This first show in the series is a benefit for Dixie Adoptable Animal Rescue, and is an intimate, acoustic performance with only 50 tickets available. All proceeds from the show will be donated to DA..
A longtime Buffett disciple’, and one of Buffett’s favorite collaborators, the Mobile native and now Nashville-based singer/songwriter Kimbrough had four co-songwriting credits with Buffett on his penultimate release “Life on the Flip Side” and then produced seven co-writes with both Mac McAnally and Buffett on the Pascagoula natives’ posthumous release “Equal Strain on all Parts”.

Buffett was fond of Kimbrough as well, once stating in an interview “Will is a wonderful throwback to the now bygone era of singer, songwriter, musician and entertainer,” he said. “Instead of substituting technology for talent, he has a unique ability to use modern-day tools to produce lasting lyrics and melodies. On stage, he can charm a crowd whether fronting a band or playing solo. That is why you see his songs on my albums and his face on our stage.”
That makes well over 20 Kimbrough or Buffett/Kimbrough songs that Buffett recorded on his last 10 albums. Kimbrough has stepped up even more so in the wake of Buffett’s absence, as Buffett’s personal choice to fill the void he left behind in the band as Kimbrough was featured with the Corral Reefer Band on the main stage at Jazz Fest in front of 85,000 people just eight months after Buffett’s death.

“I always enjoy coming back to the Gulf Coast and playing because of my relationship with Jimmy,” Kimbrough said. “I considered him a friend and I always enjoyed our songwriting sessions together. He really was one of a kind. I like coming home and seeing old friends and playing music for people who enjoy it.”
After many years as an “honorary” member of the Coral Reefer Band, Kimbrough joined the group full-time upon Buffett’s passing after Buffett told the band to add Kimbrough and “keep the party going”. Kimbrough then joined the CRB at Jazz Fest in New Orleans on the main stage in front of 85,000 fans to perform a tribute to their mentor and longtime band leader.

He will be heading to Ocean Springs after joining The Corral Reefer Band on a two month headlining tour with 22 dates all across the country that is just about to wrap up.

Kimbrough is also the longtime lead guitar player in EmmyLou Harris’ The Red Dirt Boys band.

In addition to Kimbrough, fellow Coral Reefer Band guitarist Peter Mayer will be included in this new series as will Django Walker and Keith Sykes later in the year. Plus, another show is in the works in December.