- Parrothead
Parrothead or Parrot Head is a commonly used nickname for fans of American
singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett .Origin
The term "Parrothead" began at a Jimmy Buffett concert at the Timberwolf Amphitheater outside
Cincinnati, Ohio . At the show, Gwen commented about everyone wearing Hawaiian shirts and parrot hats and how they kept coming back to see his shows, just likeDeadheads .Timothy B. Schmit , then a member of theCoral Reefer Band (now withThe Eagles ), coined the term "Parrothead" to describe each of those fans.Description
The common stereotype is of a person wearing a
Hawaiian shirt ,flip-flops andboard shorts , or a grass skirt and a coconut bra while drinking amargarita . Many fans are members of Parrothead clubs. The general theme of being a Parrothead is one of relaxation, even while working. Some prefer the spelling "Parrotthead," reflecting the double "t" in Buffett.The more "professional" aspect is to wear high end tropical vacation clothing, such as
Tommy Bahama , though this is likely seen by many as a departure from the "true tenets" of being a Parrothead as it references a more expensive lifestyle than is commonly associated with being atropical beach bum .Activities
Parrot Head Clubs "party with a purpose," and hold fundraiser event for many different causes. Events range from single act concerts or
happy hour s to the annual [http://www.phip.com/MOTM.asp Meeting of the Minds] inKey West, Florida , which attracts approximately 3,500 Parrotheads each year. The several day event, sponsored by the [http://www.phip.com Parrot Heads in Paradise] includes live music, but also aToys for Tots drive, a blood drive, raffles and other events to raise money for charities. Some regional groups will focus on one or two key charities, while others may switch between several. Environmental causes, cancer research,Alzheimer's research and theMarch of Dimes all have received large donations from Parrothead organizations. In 2005, 2.2 million dollars were raised by these organizations, along with toys, blood, canned goods and many hours of manpower to support various charities in the US and beyond.References
* http://www.phip.com/
* http://www.phip.com/Chapters.asp
* http://www.meetthephlockers.com
* http://www.parrotheadconnection.com
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
