The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, one of the most iconic celebrations of music and culture in the United States, is filled with stories of musicians and their deep ties to the festival. One of the most unique tales is that of Quint Davis and Jimmy Buffett, whose paths crossed in the French Quarter in the 1960s and would later intertwine through the world-renowned festival.
Quint Davis, a Tulane University student with a passion for music, began his career in the music industry when he was hired by George Wein to help assemble the first Jazz Fest in 1970. Davis quickly became the festival’s producer and director, a role that would solidify his status as its public face. His journey in the music world was just beginning when he met a young, unknown singer named Jimmy Buffett in the heart of New Orleans.

The first meeting between Davis and Buffett was almost serendipitous, set against the backdrop of the vibrant French Quarter in the 1960s. As Davis recalls, "He had a white Ford Falcon that was hot-rodded up that he drove to New Orleans to a little parking lot off Esplanade Avenue, down by the Old U.S. Mint. Somehow we met up there and rode around in the car." It was a casual encounter, but it was the start of an enduring friendship that would shape both men’s careers in unexpected ways.
Buffett, with his carefree attitude and penchant for fun-in-the-sun, would go on to build a successful career, and his connection with New Orleans played a pivotal role in that. He often credited the city as a source of inspiration, with many of his songs being written while visiting the area. His love for the city and the festival made him a staple at Jazz Fest for years to come.

Davis reflects on the parallel rise of both Buffett’s career and the Jazz Fest, saying, “He and the festival were at parallel points, in terms of how big and successful. Then he started going faster than us, but he would keep coming to play. He loved New Orleans, got a lot of inspiration from here. He wrote a lot of his songs here. So the festival was just his favorite thing.” This mutual admiration between Buffett and the festival played a pivotal role in his eventual debut performance at the fest.
Before taking the stage in 1989, Buffett was a familiar face at the festival. Davis shares an amusing story of hanging out with the late “60 Minutes” correspondent Ed Bradley on the Mississippi River dock, a hub of nighttime Jazz Fest concerts. "At that time there was a big, working fountain there. I can’t remember who the ladies were that got in the fountain, and whether or not Ed got in the fountain with them, but there was fountain activity." In those early years, Buffett enjoyed the essence of the festival not just as a performer but as a fan who embraced the full New Orleans experience.

When it came time for Jimmy Buffett to officially perform at the Jazz Fest, Davis recalls, “We were friends. He knew the festival. I said, 'Man, you need to play.' He said, 'Yeah, I want to play.' I had to make it official, make a deal, get a contract and pay him.” This casual exchange, born out of their friendship, led to one of the most anticipated and celebrated performances in Jazz Fest history.
Even after his official debut in 1989, Buffett continued to maintain a strong presence at the festival. During the years when he wasn’t headlining, he would often make surprise appearances alongside musical greats like Lyle Lovett, Dave Matthews, and Allen Toussaint. Davis recalls one such encounter in 2014 when he bumped into Buffett in line for gumbo at Prejean's. "I ran into him in 2014 in line at the booth for Prejean's pheasant, quail, and andouille gumbo." The duo’s bond transcended the professional, a testament to how much Buffett enjoyed being part of the Jazz Fest community.

For Davis, there is no question that Buffett’s relationship with the festival was a special one. He draws a parallel between Jimmy Buffett and the Neville Brothers, who were also considered the heart and soul of the festival. “The Neville Brothers were heart and soul of the festival. They closed the festival; that was a special relationship. Jimmy was the same way. He was heart and soul of the festival,” Davis reflects. Buffett, with his love for New Orleans and its culture, was more than just a performer—he became an integral part of the Jazz Fest experience, a symbol of its growth and evolution over the years.