A1A—The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show was born in 1991 when lead vocalist, guitarist, and keyboardist Jeff Pike invited drummer and harmonica player Scott Nickerson, founder of the first Jimmy Buffett Parrot Head Club and Parrot Heads In Paradise, to join him in his already successful solo tribute to Jimmy Buffett. The first Parrot Head Club, started by Scott Nickerson, was more than just your average club. Its members had to care deeply about charity work, community service, giving back, and Jimmy Buffett’s lifestyle, attitude, and music. Being a stickler for detail, while writing the bi-laws, Scott consulted Jimmy’s management and attorneys every step of the way to ensure that Jimmy and his team approved. When Scott joined Jeff to form A1A, the same amount of professional detail was constantly implemented. In 1992, the band won a Jimmy Buffett Sound Alike Contest for Margaritaville Records, bringing them to the attention of Jimmy Buffett and his organization. That same year, A1A was the first band to perform at and repeatedly headline for many years the annual Jimmy Buffett ‘Meeting of The Minds’ Jimmy Buffett Parrot Head Convention and many other national landmark annual Parrot Head Events across the country. These performances laid the foundation for the fundamental considerable growth of the National Jimmy Buffett fan base through the Parrot Head Club community and the Tribute, Trop Rock, and Coastal Americana Music genres as they are today. There were no tribute shows in 1992, and due to the massive impact that A1A and the Parrot Head Clubs were having across the country, Jeff and Scott were granted the use of the name A1A – The Official and Original Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show through Jimmy and his management. In 1993, A1A was invited to appear in Jimmy Buffett’s MTV Video, ‘Fruitcakes.’ In 1995, Jeff Pike performed “Cheeseburger In Paradise” with Jimmy Buffett and The Coral Reefer Band at Lakewood Amphitheater in Atlanta, Georgia. The show was recorded and released as “Jimmy Buffett’s Barometer Soup Radio Special.” This show and Jeff’s performance still receive regular rotation on Jimmy Buffett’s “Radio Margaritaville” on SiriusXM Radio. In 1998, A1A recorded their first live CD, “A1A Live.” The CD was produced by Jimmy Buffett’s bass player, Jim Mayer, and featured performances by Jimmy’s long-time harmonica player, Greg “Fingers” Taylor. That same year, Jimmy Buffett Coral Reefer Band Members Michael Utley and Robert Greenidge performed with A1A during their headline performance at the Meeting Of The Minds (The Annual Jimmy Buffett Parrot Head Convention) in Key West, Florida. A1A introduced a future Trop Rock star to the world at that same show: a young 14-year-old steel drum player and songwriter named John Patti.
In 2001, A1A recorded their second live CD, “A1A and Friends—Live at Hemingway’s.” This CD featured Amy Lee, then Jimmy Buffett’s saxophone player.
Two years later, in 2003, the band released their first CD of original Trop Rock music, “Ship Happens!!!” During its 33-year history, A1A has played to countless high-profile clients and large venues nationwide. Due to their ever-growing popularity, the band continues to draw large numbers of Parrot Heads and fans nationwide.
The late Jimmy Buffett and members of his band, the late Greg “Fingers” Taylor, Mac McAnally, Michael Utley, Robert Greenidge, Peter Mayer, Amy Lee, Nadirah Shakoor, and Tina Gullickson, have all performed with A1A over the years. Greg “Fingers” Taylor and saxophonist Amy Lee were featured on the band’s first two live CDs, and Greg was a member of A1A for several years and performed many shows with the band.
Scott Nickerson left the band in 2004 for personal, business, and health reasons. He relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he still resides and performs with local Trop Rock Musicians nationwide.
Upon Scott’s departure in 2004, Jeff decided to grow the band and show from the duo they had been since their inception into a much larger performing ensemble utilizing the finest dedicated musicians and audio engineers available.
In 2008, A1A released their second CD, “Beachwrecked.” One of Jeff’s original songs from Beachwrecked, entitled “The Steller Song Lines (In Memory of The Steller Sea Cow),” was featured in an educational CD issued by the national Save The Manatee Club.
In 2009, Mac McAnally and Nadirah Shakoor chose A1A as Nadirah’s backup band to help promote her Mailboat Records Release, ‘Nod To The Story Teller.’
In 2011, the band sold out two consecutive nights at the historic Strand Theater in Marietta, Georgia. The two shows were recorded and released as their third live album, “Road To Paradise.” An original song entitled “Hey Margarita” was included on that album, which helped bring them to the attention of Hollywood Producer Kirk Jones.
In 2012, Jimmy Buffett and his personal assistant, Mike Ramos, were instrumental in landing A1A in the Lions Gate Major Motion Picture Release, ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting.’ The band recorded Jimmy’s classic, ‘Why Don’t We Get Drunk,’ which was included in the movie and on the soundtrack released by Capitol Records.
In 2016, A1A was honored to be requested to perform with Jimmy Buffett and Mac McAnally as their band in a private performance for State Dignitaries and some of Jimmy’s personal friends at The Masters Open in Augusta, Georgia. A1A closed out 2016 at The Labor Day End of Summer Beach Bash for The Washington State Fair with Tim McGraw, Kid Rock, and Uncle Kracker.
Today, the band’s popularity continues to grow, and with Jimmy Buffett’s devastating passing in September 2023, their mission, show, and presence are evermore critically important. The commitment, energy, musicianship, excitement, and continuous honest dedication to preserving Jimmy Buffet’s legacy that has always surrounded a Jeff Pike and A1A performance are an experience and a driving force that has helped the band remain the first, foremost, and longest-running Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show in history.
