Thousands show up to Jimmy Buffet tribute in Florida Keys

Jimmy Buffet tribute event photo by The Florida Keys X page

​Jimmy Buffet passed away over the weekend at the age of 76, and his fans wasted no time organizing events to commemorate the singer's life. 
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Beyond the touching tributes posted online, the Florida Keys held a celebration at 5p.m. Sunday night, the "It's 5 O'Clock in Key West" Second Line Procession, specifically to honor the legend. Those who were local were encouraged to join while those who weren't could partake by watching a LIVE video.

"Key West pays tribute to the legendary Jimmy Buffett who left us on Sept. 1. Thousands gathered on Duval Street for a march honoring the man who put 'Margaritaville' on the map," The Florida Keys wrote on their X page.

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Key West pays tribute to the legendary Jimmy Buffett who left us on Sept. 1. Thousands gathered on Duval Street for a march honoring the man who put "Margaritaville" on the map. ?? #JimmyBuffett #KeyWest #Margaritaville pic.twitter.com/AogyoycyIc

— The Florida Keys (@thefloridakeys) September 4, 2023

The "Cheeseburger in Paradise" singer was well known for his love of the Key West.

"Internationally recognized singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett, whose death at age 76 was announced late Friday on his social media platforms, discovered Key West in the early 1970s. He drew on the island’s influence to create the tropical mystique that flavored his music throughout his life, including his hit 'Margaritaville' that became an iconic anthem for the subtropical island," wrote The Florida Keys on their website, furthering that he founded the Margaritaville Store in Key West’s Lands End Village in the 1980s.

Buffet's Margaritaville empire grew exponentially since then with dozens of resort locations opening throughout North America.

Buffet passed away on September 1 as a result of Merkle Cell Skin Cancer.