"Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st, surrounded by his family, his friends, his music and his dogs," it reads, "he will be missed by many."
The cause of death, however, was not specified.
"This is very sad news, a charming man who left too soon," reacted on Instagram the British singer Elton John, "Jimmy Buffett was a unique and precious artist".
His flagship track, "Margaritaville," had topped the Billboard chart for 22 weeks, serving as a launching pad for a successful music career but also in the business world.
Nicknamed the "mayor of Margaritaville", the singer will produce thirty albums during his career, mixing country, folk and Caribbean sounds while successfully developing chains of hotels, restaurants and shops, capitalizing on his relaxed image.
Born on December 25, 1946 in the state of Mississippi but raised in the neighboring state of Alabama, Mr. Buffett started playing guitar in college, initially playing on the street and on small stages in New Orleans, according to his website.
He released his first album in 1970, the beginning of a rich career that also led him to the publication of successful books as well as appearances in film or television and even on Broadway, with his musical "Escape to Margaritaville".
The singer was expected to release a new album by the end of the year.
Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson paid tribute to Jimmy Buffett on X (ex-Twitter), posting a photo of the cover of the album "Havana Daydreamin", released in 1976.
"Love and mercy, Jimmy Buffett," he added in the caption.
© 2023 AFP