The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. The band's name alludes to both coral reefs (in line with Buffett's tropical-themed music) and "reefer" (slang for marijuana).

The Coral Reefer Band
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band perform during their Summerzcool Tour in June 2009.
Background information
Origin	U.S.
Genres	Country rock[1] Gulf and Western
Years active	1974–present
Labels	Candix Capitol Brother Reprise Caribou CBS
Members	Jimmy Buffett Michael Utley Mac McAnally Robert Greenidge Peter Mayer Jim Mayer Roger Guth Doyle Grisham John Lovell Tina Gullickson Nadirah Shakoor Eric Darken
Past members	see list of former members

Origins

Current line-up

As of 2021^[update], the band's line-up consists of:

• Jimmy Buffett – vocals, rhythm guitar (1974–present)
• Michael Utley – keyboards (1975–present)
• Robert Greenidge – steel drums (1983–present)
• Peter Mayer – lead guitar, vocals (1989–present)
• Jim Mayer – bass, vocals (1989–present)
• Roger Guth – drums (1989–present)
• John Lovell – trumpet (1992–present)
• Mac McAnally – vocals, rhythm and lead guitars, dobro, slide guitar (1994–present)
• Tina Gullickson – guitar, vocals (1995–present)
• Nadirah Shakoor – vocals (1995–present)
• Doyle Grisham – pedal steel guitar (1974–present)
• Eric Darken – percussion (2011–present)

Former members

Other former members of the Coral Reefer Band include:

• Philip Fajardo – Drums (1975–1976)
• Tim Drummond – Bass Guitar (1986–1988)
• Ralph MacDonald – Percussion (1974–2011; died 2011)
• Jerry Jeff Walker – Guitar, background vocals, composer
• Marshall Chapman – guitar, background vocals (1987); co-writer "Last Mango in Paris," writer "The Perfect Partner"
• Lanny Fiel – Guitar
• Rick Fiel – Bass guitar
• Dave Haney – Bass guitar
• Paul Tabet – Drums
• Bergen White – Trombone
• Daniel "Stiles" Francisco – Trumpet
• Bobby Thompson – Banjo
• Hamilton Camp – Guitar
• Doug Bartenfeld – Guitar
• Jay Oliver – Keyboards
• Randy Goodrum – Keyboards
• Buzz Cason – Keyboards, background vocals
• Don Kloetzke – Background vocals
• Roger Bartlett – Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmony vocals (1974–1977) (the original guitarist; traveled with Jimmy as a duo in the early days)
• Michael Jeffry – lead guitar, harmony vocals
• Josh Leo – guitar
• Vince Melamed – keyboards
• Tony Pace – Drums
• Timothy B. Schmit – bass, vocals (Schmit coined the term Parrotheads)
• "Blind" Jay Spell – keyboards – (Died 2011)
• Greg "Fingers" Taylor – harmonica (1975–2000, 2007)
• T.C. Mitchell – saxophones and flute (1994–2005)
• Amy Lee – saxophone and writer of the Buffett hit – Fruitcakes (1991–2005)
• Mary Harris – Background vocals and vocal arrangements.
• Barry Chance – lead guitar background vocals. (Died 2010)
• Hadley Hockensmith – Bass
• Claudia Cummings – Background vocals
• Andy McMahon – Organ, Fender Rhodes
• Bob Naylor – Mouth Organ, backing vocals
• Harry Dailey – Bass, background vocals. Co-writer "Volcano." (1975–1982; died 2003)
• Matt Betton – Drums
• M.L. Benoit – Congas and percussion, background vocals
• David Briggs – Piano
• Dr. Kino Bachellier – Shakers and French
• Norbert Putnam – Upright bass
• Dominic Cortese – Accordion
• Deborah McColl – Background vocals
• David "Cool" Persons – Guitars, Vocals
• Reggie Young – Electric lead guitar
• Mike Gardner – Drums – (Died 1991)
• Ed "Lump" Williams – Bass guitar
• Sammy Creason – Drums
• Phil Royster – Congas
• Johnny Gimble – Fiddle
• Shane Keister – Moog synthesizer
• Kenny Buttrey – Drums and Percussion (1977–1978)
• Vassar Clements – Fiddle
• Ferrell Morris – Percussion
• Sam Clayton – Congas and Percussion (1982–1988)
• Larry Lee – Guitar, Drums, Keyboards
• Tim Krekel – lead guitar, backing vocala
• Brie Howard – Percussion, Vocals
• Russ Kunkel – Drums
• Keith Sykes – Guitar

Timeline

Honorary members and special guests

Many artists have recorded and/or appeared on stage with Buffett, earning them status as honorary Coral Reefers.[2] Some of the more notable names are listed here.

• Paul McCartney – vocals
• James Taylor – vocals
• Grover Washington Jr. – saxophone
• The Oak Ridge Boys – vocals
• Sean Payton – bongos
• Clint Black – vocals, harmonica
• Ed Bradley – vocals, tambourine
• Rita Coolidge – vocals
• Steve Cropper – guitar
• Huey Lewis – vocals, harmonica
• Sheryl Crow – vocals
• Steve Winwood – vocals, organ
• Harrison Ford – whip cracks
• Glenn Frey – guitar, background vocals
• Steve Goodman – guitar
• John Hiatt – guitar
• J. J. Watt – percussion
• Alan Jackson – vocals
• Earl Klugh – guitar
• Nicolette Larsen – vocals
• Roy Orbison – vocals
• Bill Payne – Keyboard
• J.D. Souther – backing vocals
• Sonny Landreth – slide guitar
• Freedie Buffett – background vocals
• Ilo Ferreira – vocals, guitar
• Jake Shimabukuro – Ukulele (2005–2009)
• Zac Brown – guitar and vocals
• Bill Kreutzmann – drums
• Ric Flair – drums and background "woo's"
• Brian Wilson – vocals

References