NEWS
Jimmy Buffett’s Cause Of Death Revealed To Be Rare Form Of Skin Cancer
Courtesy of jimmybuffett via Instagram
The cause of singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett’s death on Friday was revealed on Sunday to be Merkel cell skin cancer, a rare type of skin cancer he battled for four years, according to his website.
Buffett died at age 76 at his home in Sag Harbor, on Long Island in New York, “surrounded by family and friends,” according to his website. The prolific singer continued performing during his treatment, with his last show being a surprise appearance in Rhode Island in July.
Merkel cell skin cancer is rare but aggressive, and is the second deadliest form of skin cancer after melanoma.
Merkel cells are found in the top layer of the skin, and Merkel cell carcinoma is a skin cancer in which Merkel cells grow out of control and become malignant, according to the National Cancer Institute. The disease often begins as a painless lump on an area of skin exposed to the sun, and can spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body.
Buffett released 30 studio albums over the course of his 50-year career, and is known mainly for singing about paradise and the beach lifestyle, especially in Florida, in hits like “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” and “Margaritaville,” which became the name of his restaurant empire.
Buffett was also a respected storyteller, chronicling the lives of coastal characters and even his own adventures, like in “Jamaica Mistaica,” which recounts the time he flew into Jamaica and was held at gunpoint, mistaken for a drug smuggler.
His legion of fans, known as Parrotheads, visited Margaritaville restaurant locations around the country over the weekend, where flags were flying at half-mast, according to photos on social media.
Buffett is survived by his wife of 46 years, Jane; his three children, daughters Savannah Jane and Sarah Delaney, and son Cameron Marley; and his grandson, Marley Ray.
TMX contributed to this article.
