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The Story Behind Jimmy Buffett’s Legendary Opening Night at This Iconic Nashville Venue
Before becoming associated with Key West and his later commercial success, Jimmy Buffett was a struggling singer-songwriter in Nashville. The article recounts how his determination led him to become the first artist booked at Exit/In, a venue that later became an important part of Nashville’s musical history.
In 1971, Buffett spotted the unfinished Exit/In while visiting the nearby Elliston Place Soda Shop and asked owners Brugh Reynolds and Owsley Manier for an audition. They had construction workers pause work while he played several songs on the incomplete stage, and hired him after the carpenters applauded. Buffett later moved to Florida but returned to perform at Exit/In many times, including for his final show there in 2021; artists such as Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and R.E.M. also played the venue.
In short
- Buffett was Exit/In’s first booked performer.
- He auditioned while the venue was still being built.
- His final Exit/In show took place in 2021.
Explained simply
In the early 1970s, Nashville was known for country music, but its music scene also included smaller venues where newer songwriters could perform. Jimmy Buffett was then a struggling singer-songwriter, years before he became widely known for songs associated with Florida and the Gulf Coast.
Exit/In opened in Nashville in 1971, founded by Brugh Reynolds and Owsley Manier as a place for live music. It went on to host performers including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and R.E.M., and became part of the city’s musical history.