THE COAST 101 well as a United States senator. Emilie Blackmore Stapp was a children’s author and philanthropist who chose Stone County as her home. She and her sister established the Stone County Public Library. Another author, Natasha Trethewey, won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2007 for her book Native Guard (2006). Her roots remain deep in Harrison County, and she was the poet laureate of the state of Mississippi in 2012. Many visual artists claim South Mississippi also. Included are Richmond Barthe, from Bay St. Louis, who was a key JIMMY BUFFETT Singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur Jimmy Buffett was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, in 1946 and spent much of his early life in Mobile, Alabama. He attended Auburn University and the University of Southern Mississippi, where he majored in journalism. With hopes of becoming a country singer, Buffett moved to Nashville in the late 1960s. His first record with Barnaby Records, Down to Earth, sold 324 copies. After Barnaby “lost” his second album prior to its release, Buffett moved to Key West, Florida, in 1972 and soon signed with ABC-Dunhill. In 1974, Buffett released a top-thirty hit called “Come Monday.” He formed the first version of his Coral Reefer Band in 1975. Buffett’s career breakthrough came in 1977 with his platinum album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes, which included the famous hit single “Margaritaville.” With albums like this, as well as Coconut Telegraph (1981) and A White Sportcoat and a Pink Crustacean (1983), Buffett began solidifying his easy-going, “beach bum” reputation. Rather than promoting his music on world tours like most hit artists, Buffett spent a majority of his time traveling the Caribbean on his treasured fifty-foot sailboat. Nevertheless, Buffett continued to gain popularity. His Coconut Telegraph album inspired the creation of a fan club newsletter of the same name, and his fans and subscribers to the newsletter began referring to themselves “Parrotheads.” By the early 1990s, Buffett had established a Margaritaville empire—including a record label, stores, and restaurants. Buffett also wrote three best-selling books: a collection of short stories called Tales from Margaritaville; a novel titled Where Is Joe Merchant?; and his memoir, A Pirate Looks at Fifty. Additionally, Buffett co-wrote two children's books with his daughter Savannah Jane. For three consecutive years from 1993 to 1995, Forbes magazine listed Jimmy Buffett as one of the highest-paid entertainers. In recent decades, Buffett has contributed to a range of charities, but he is particularly passionate about environmental causes. For example, he has advocated on behalf of Florida's endangered wildlife and marinelife. Today, in addition to his Margaritaville franchise, Buffett has his own record label, Mailboat Records, as well his own radio station, Radio Margaritaville. As of 2007, Buffett had produced over thirty albums, including eight Gold and nine Platinum or Multi-Platinum. Today, Buffett continues to travel, tour, and produce music, often collaborating with other well-known artists such as Alan Jackson, George Strait, and Zac Brown Band. figure in the Harlem Renaissance and an internationally recognized sculptor who worked in marble, bronze, and stone. With its rich and varied history, the six counties of South Mississippi maintain their histories and simultaneously look to future growth in the twenty-first century as Mississippi celebrates its bicentennial birthday. PHOTO BY CLARE STEGALL PHOTOGRAPHY, COURTESY OF CITY OF PASCAGOULA