Jimmy Buffet in Tangier, Morocco
Last June, 2007, I had an opportunity to go to the graduation of The American School of Tangier. The commencement speaker was American singer and entertainer Jimmy Buffett. I had gone to the graduation especially to hear him speak. Afterward, I had an opportunity to meet him personally. Here I am (white dress) with Jimmy Buffett (right).
About 400 people attended the graduation. It was held on the back lawn of the school, with the outdoor blue-and-white stage flanked by both the American and Moroccan flags. Prior to the start of the ceremony, Jimmy Buffett’s music played on loudspeakers at a moderate volume.
The sixty-year-old American singer and entertainer, best known for his beach-vacation-style music wore a white linen shirt and soft gray leather jacket over jeans, and sported sunglasses with a light-brown tint. He prefaced his remarks by saying, “No one knew who I was in Tangier, and a lot of people still don’t.”
Buffett went on to tell of his personal acquaintance with the just-deceased headmaster Joseph A. McPhillips III, who had proudly showed him around the campus on a previous year’s visit. Buffett said, ” I admired Joe. He was so proud, showing me the physical buildings and naming each of the students, and their accomplishments.” He added, “When I first walked the grounds, I met the teachers in their classrooms. I heard the kindergarten kids singing, and once there, I invited myself to participate!” He told how he joined in singing The Hokey Pokey with the kindergarten kids, who corrected him on some of the words.
Buffett brought a message of hope for international relations to the fourteen graduates when he spoke to them. “The world is a big place that sometimes seems crazy and dangerous–but there is plenty of good out there. If we’re to share a peaceful future, it can only be built on tolerance… The American School of Tangier is like a well in the desert. Your graduates are like the water from that well.” Jimmy advised the graduates to “Pursue the things you love, and you’ll be on the path intended for you.”
Following his remarks, Jimmy pulled out his guitar, and sang two songs in remembrance of Joe McPhillips, whose funeral and burial had taken place in Tangier just that morning. The words of his first song, Everybody’s Talkin‘, seemed very appropriate. Without stopping, he went right into The Hokey Pokey.
Afterward, I found most of the graduates had no idea who he was (too young, apparently).
Madame Monet
November 21, 2007 at 11:20 pm
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November 25, 2007 at 7:30 am
An interesting account of what must have been a very fascinating day!
November 25, 2007 at 9:14 pm
Madame Monet, Miki drew my attention to your great photo opportunity with Jimmy Buffet! I was lucky enough to sing my way through the Caribbean islands a couple of years back, and came to know his music and persona through his restaurant in Florida, outlets in St.Martin etc. My musical colleagues and I adopted the song he did with Alan Jackson “Its 5 o’clock somewhere” Whilst we never quite disciplined ourselves to put it in the shows at night, it could invariably be heard resounding through the ship cabins at all hours of the day and night, and in the spirit for which it was intended! Your post brought back some great memories.
December 27, 2007 at 1:40 am
I remember in when we use to play football (soccer) tournaments against American School of Tangier, French Lycee Regnault and Spanish Instituto Ramon y Cajal.
January 13, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Folks,
It’s fantastic that you’ve met and heard Jimmy’s music, but please, his name is not spelled Buffet, it’s BUFFETT with 2 T’s on the end.
January 13, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Thank you, and I’ve corrected it.
Madame Monet
March 14, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Memories of my days spent in the dormatory at AST, under the watchful eyes of the slithery Daniel Halpern, came flooding back as I read your account of the graduation of the class of 2007. Most especially my feelings of sadness at the passing of the great Joseph A. McPhillips III. Mr. McPhillips’ enthusiasm for the school, his students, the written word, the theater and all that life has to offer was the best that an educator could have ever given to a young man seeking to validate ideals that were by no means “mainstream” in the late 60’s and early 70’s. We didn’t have pop-culture celebrities coming to the school in those days, just literary giants like Paul Bowles, William Boroughs and Allen Ginsburg or others Margarite McBey and Yves St. Laurant come to mind. Education, the best, but more than that, life changing experiences, epiphanies on a daily basis, all inspired by a BMW motorcycle riding Headmaster named Joe.
April 24, 2008 at 6:51 am
After a conversation with a friend, nostalgic memories of Tangier led me to google AST. I’m sorry to hear that Mr. McPhillips passed away. As a student at AST from K-3rd grade ( about ‘90-’94), my memories of him are few, but remain vivid – I think it’s a testament to the force of his character. Actually, he terrified me…hahaha. His voice was deep and loud. When he entered a room his confidence, posture, and gait, commanded attention. I faintly remember a large ring on his hand and sometimes he would walk with a cane… not to lean on, but it seemed like it was more for style. I feel my education in AST and experiences in Tangier and Morocco in general played a significant role in determining who I am today. I could not have asked for a better education. I don’t remember any celebrities though!
April 25, 2008 at 6:19 pm
What a ripoff! I graduated from AST in ‘82 and we didn’t have anyone close to Jimmy Buffet as a speaker (I think we had some idiot come up from the American Embassy).
Still, this was an excellent read and, like most, made me sad to ponder further the future of the school without Joe at the helm.
April 28, 2008 at 1:41 am
Bruce Pennington;
Amazed to see a posting by you. I taught at the American School while you were there. Hope to hear from you, oakoak1044@yahoo.com
December 15, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Pennington,Bolinger !!! remember you both well and the wonderful two years I spent before graduating in the class of ‘70 . Saddened by the news on Joe….he was ahead of his time and we were priviledged to have been part of his Bacchae production in69