Artist Description
So Jimmy Buffett walks into a bar…this being Jimmy Buffett, the bar is on some remote corner of the map – in this case Cape Verde, the Portuguese archipelago off the coast of West Africa. Jimmy was touching down in his plane like Indiana Jones on his way from Puerto Rico to Bamako, Mali on the first part of a journey that would take him to Timbuktu, the Sahara Desert, Morocco, Ireland, and New York – an adventurer’s holiday. He was traveling with his longtime confederate Kino, Spock to Jimmy’s Kirk, and four other friends – including MTV godfather Tom Freston and music legend Chris Blackwell, the man who produced “The Harder They Come,” brought Bob Marley to the world, and whose Island Records gave a home to everyone from Cat Stevens to U2. The travelers dropped their bags at a hotel and went off to look for food, liquor and music. They hit a few saloons and found great music everywhere. It was like Cape Verde was Beale Street, Memphis 1955 – everybody was a musician.But even in this player’s paradise, one young man stood out and knocked the world-weariness out of these music veterans. Ilo Ferreira was called onto the small stage at a local restaurant where everyone seemed to know everyone else. Ilo was young – looked like a college senior – and handsome. He showed quiet confidence as he picked up his guitar and adjusted his microphone. Then he started to play and sing and Buffett leaned forward. Ilo had the high, beautiful voice of the young Sam Cooke, effortless charisma, and a natural grace on the guitar. He sang what sounded like an old soul classic none of the visitors could place. Turned out Ilo wrote it. With every song he played, the excitement of Jimmy’s crew grew. Where did this kid come from? Could he really be THIS good? Now, when friends on vacation get together in a saloon to drink and gab, it’s pretty common for big plans to be laid and big promises to be made. Bar talk very rarely gets beyond the bar. That night, Jimmy talked with Ilo and his band, even his father, about how good the young man was. Jimmy’s companions imagined out loud bringing the kid to America and putting him in a real recording studio. Jimmy just asked Ilo if he would come to lunch the next day – and bring his guitar.
Ilo said sure, and the next day the visitors asked him to play again – in the sober light of day. When he finished they were even more excited. Blackwell and Freston agreed - Ilo really was THAT good. Jimmy and Ilo exchanged emails and phone numbers and promised to keep in touch. Jimmy said to his friends, “I’d really love to bring this fella to America and give him a shot. He’s just great.” Now, here is where Jimmy Buffett is different from everybody else in the music business. He didn’t forget that ambition when he got back to the States. He did not leave his enthusiasm behind when the plane took off. He stayed in touch with Ilo. He played a tape of Ilo’s songs to big time record executives and producers. Other people saw what Jimmy had seen on that island off the coast of Africa. The kid had IT.
Jimmy arranged some studio time for Ilo in Nashville and hooked him up with a name producer who heard what Jimmy heard. Then Buffett got his big brainstorm. The first two weekends in September he was playing his biggest headlining shows ever to just under 60 thousand people a night at the New England Patriot’s stadium outside of Boston. What if he brought Ilo over and put him on the show? How would it be for a young singer from Cape Verde to step out on stage with the Coral Reefer Band behind him and 60 thousand Parrot Heads in front of him? It would sure be a test of fire. If Ilo could get through that initiation, he really could become what Jimmy glimpsed for him. To read the conclusion, visit margaritaville.com.
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Guess who showed up to Ilo\'s show, Jimmy himself!Hi, I just wanted to let you know that I saw the show last night. I actually got to meet Jimmy, shake his hand, have a short... MorePost Your Own! |
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Comments on This Artist
Guess who showed up to Ilo's show, Jimmy himself!
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that I saw the show last night. I actually got to meet Jimmy, shake his hand, have a short conversation and had him sign my Margaritaville hat!!!!!
Nadirah, Tina, Mac and Jimmy all performed back ground vocals for Ilo. Jimmy's statement, �I finally made it, I am singing back up for Ilo in New York�!
He truly is a humble guy.
My kids freaked out when I got home.
By the way, he told us that he is off to St. Martin for Thanksgiving, some place warmer than New York City.
Illo Ferreira!!!
I love Illo!!!Thank you Jimmy for bringing him here in to the States,he is awesome singer and player...Aini
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