Every rock fan and journalist alike might only ever agree on one thing; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction means more when it happens in Cleveland, Ohio. In New York and LA, it is just another celebrity red carpet appearance, but when the induction ceremony returns home, it truly is something else. It is an astonishing evening filled with rock legends that is a pilgrimage I think every rock and roll fan needs to make at least once, no matter who’s being inducted. This year I had the privilege of seeing the ceremony, enjoying time at the museum, spotting celebrities, and seeing the induction of quite a few rock legends. However, what stole the night away for me was the induction of Jimmy Buffett.
This ceremony took place just over a year after we said goodbye to the celebrated soft-rock musician. Some parrot-heads and rock and rollers alike were troubled with his exclusion, something that has been becoming more common in recent years. I stand with these fans and their push to implore the induction committee to fast-track artists they deem worthy for consideration, so they can be honored during their lifetime. However, any harsh air dissipated as the ceremony approached, and everyone began gearing up for the wonder of what might come with honoring a musician of Jimmy’s caliber. When the night finally came, his induction made me feel like we were present at a special service honoring someone who was more than just a musician.
The overwhelming sentiment of the evening was conveyed when Dave Matthews took the stage to begin the induction. This part of the tribute was my personal favorite of the evening, in part because of the emotional performance that Dave provided, and partly because Jimmy was an artist that I recently fell in love with; My dad shared a very strong attachment to Buffet as well. When Matthews came out and admitted to the nerves of honoring someone so special as well as performing after a very powerful video honoring Big Mama Thornton, he was pulling at our heartstrings right from the start. As he started playing, it was as if his soul was speaking through the strums in a way only a true musician can. I will be the first to admit that I was sharing tears with Jimmy Buffett’s family and Dave Matthews by the end his performance of “A Pirate Looks at Forty.” It was one of those emotional atmospheres that you wish you could capture in a bottle and save forever.
Following the emotional opening performance, of my all-time favorite songwriters James Taylor took the stage to induct Buffet. He provided a bit of brevity with a couple of his classic quips and honored Mr. Buffett to the highest degree. During the speech, he described the late songwriter as a towering mythological character who was more down to earth than most. Taylor was giving him a likeness to Prometheus, giving man song. He talked of friendship, love, kindness, and a dedication to his fans that was second to none. The designated time was wrapped up by James Taylor, Kenny Chesney, and Mac McAnally performing a touching version of “Come Monday.” This capped off as close to as perfect of an induction section, sans Jimmy rising from the dead to be present with his fellow “Nautical Wheelers.”
I leave you with this: If you have five hours and five minutes to spare, I highly recommend you watch the whole ceremony so you can also experience the joyous event that was the 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. However, if not, please take 16 minutes out of your obviously busy schedules to relax, and honor the late but great Jimmy Buffett.
