Margie Washichek: The Story of Jimmy Buffett’s First Wife

Margie Washichek is an American woman best known as the first wife of singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett. She knew Buffett during his early years, long before his music career brought him major fame and success.

She became famous because of her marriage to Jimmy Buffett and her earlier title as Miss USS Alabama. Margie was also connected with Buffett during the beginning of his journey as a professional musician.

This article explores Margie Washichek’s early life, education, Miss USS Alabama title, relationship with Jimmy Buffett, marriage, divorce, children, career, net worth, and life after their separation in simple detail.

Quick Bio

Full Name	Margie Washichek
Birthplace	Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States
Nationality	American
Education	Spring Hill College
Known For	Being Jimmy Buffett’s first wife
College Title	Miss USS Alabama
Title Period	1967–68
Ex-Husband	Jimmy Buffett
Marriage Year	1969
Divorce Year	1972
Children With Jimmy Buffett	None
Profession	Not widely known
Net Worth	Not reliably known

Who Is Margie Washichek?

Margie Washichek is best known as the former wife of legendary American singer Jimmy Buffett. She became part of Buffett’s life before he developed the successful music career and island-inspired public image that later made him famous.

However, Margie had an identity before her marriage. She studied at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, and was named Miss USS Alabama for 1967–68, serving as an official hostess connected with the famous battleship.

Margie later married Buffett while he was still building his music career. Their marriage lasted around three years, and after their divorce, Margie chose a much quieter life away from widespread public attention.

Margie Washichek’s Early Life

Margie Washichek is reported to have been born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, United States. Her exact birth date and age have remained outside the information shared about her life.

Only limited details about her childhood are known. Information about her mother, siblings, and other close relatives has also remained away from interviews and detailed biographical coverage.

Margie’s father reportedly owned a junkyard called Marina Junk. Materials from this business were later used in the creation of Product Sound Studio in Mobile, connecting her family indirectly with Jimmy Buffett’s earliest recording experiences.

Education at Spring Hill College

Margie Washichek attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. Her college years became especially important because they were connected with both her own public recognition and her developing relationship with Jimmy Buffett.

Jimmy attended Mississippi Southern, which later became the University of Southern Mississippi. Margie and Jimmy became college sweethearts during this early period of their lives and eventually became engaged.

Margie’s exact degree, field of study, and graduation date have remained private. Still, her time at Spring Hill College became one of the best-known parts of her life before her marriage to Buffett.

Margie Washichek as Miss USS Alabama

Margie received public attention during college when she was named Miss USS Alabama. She held the title for 1967–68 and served as an official hostess associated with the USS Alabama.

The role was connected with the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile. It gave Margie a public identity of her own before she became widely associated with Jimmy Buffett.

She is sometimes described as having a beauty-pageant background. More specifically, her recognized role during this period was Miss USS Alabama and official hostess for the famous battleship.

How Did Margie Washichek Meet Jimmy Buffett?

Margie and Jimmy knew each other during their college years. Their relationship developed before Jimmy became the famous singer, songwriter, businessman, and author remembered by millions of fans.

They became college sweethearts and eventually got engaged. At the time, Jimmy was a young musician trying to establish himself rather than the wealthy entertainer he would become many years later.

Their early relationship therefore belonged to a very different chapter of Buffett’s life. Margie knew him before “Margaritaville,” major concerts, successful businesses, and his famous tropical lifestyle image.

Margie’s Role in Jimmy Buffett’s Early Music

Margie was around during an important period in Jimmy Buffett’s early musical development. Jimmy recorded some of his first material at Product Sound Studio in Mobile while trying to establish himself as an artist.

Product Sound Studio operated on the second floor of the Cantrell Photography Studio building. John Edd Thompson, Milton L. Brown, Travis Turk, and Nick Panioutour were involved in establishing the studio.

Some materials used in its construction reportedly came from Marina Junk, the business owned by Margie’s father. This created an interesting connection between Margie’s family and Jimmy’s early recording environment.

Helping Jimmy With Recording Sessions

Margie frequently visited Product Sound Studio during Jimmy’s early musical years. She also reportedly helped arrange and book some recording sessions for him while he was developing his career.

This period came before Jimmy had achieved mainstream success. His future as a musician was still uncertain, and he was working through the difficult early stages experienced by many young artists.

Margie therefore witnessed part of Buffett’s journey before fame changed his life. Her connection with these early sessions adds another dimension to her story beyond simply being described as his first wife.

Margie Washichek and Jimmy Buffett’s Marriage

Margie Washichek married Jimmy Buffett in 1969. Their wedding took place years before Jimmy achieved his greatest commercial success and developed the tropical music identity associated with his later career.

After Jimmy was signed by songwriter and producer Buzz Cason, the couple moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Jimmy continued pursuing music while also working at Billboard magazine during this early career period.

Their married life was very different from the wealthy lifestyle Jimmy later enjoyed. Money was limited, his career was developing slowly, and the couple faced the financial pressures of building a new life.

Their Life in Nashville

Nashville became an important chapter for Margie and Jimmy. Jimmy went there hoping to move his music career forward, but success did not arrive immediately after the couple settled there.

During this period, Jimmy released his first album, Down to Earth, in 1970. His later tropical style had not yet fully developed, and he was still discovering his identity as an artist.

Jimmy also worked for Billboard magazine during his Nashville years. He later described it as his only regular day job, showing how different his life was before becoming a successful full-time entertainer.

Financial Problems During Their Marriage

Margie and Jimmy experienced financial struggles during their marriage. Jimmy was still an emerging musician, meaning the couple did not have the money and financial security associated with his later success.

Jimmy later remembered being broke during this stage of his life. One of the valuable possessions associated with the couple was a Mercedes, but even maintaining the vehicle created financial difficulties.

These struggles happened while Jimmy was trying to establish himself professionally. Margie experienced this uncertain period before the successful albums, tours, books, businesses, and other ventures that eventually made Buffett extremely wealthy.

Why Did Margie Washichek and Jimmy Buffett Divorce?

Margie and Jimmy’s marriage eventually faced personal difficulties. Jimmy later looked back on his behavior during the relationship and described himself as immature during this early stage of adulthood.

During this period, Jimmy also became interested in a young woman named Edith, who was known as Eddie. She worked at an upscale clothing shop called The Looking Glass, where Buffett reportedly spent time playing guitar nearby.

Jimmy eventually filed for divorce from Margie. Their divorce was finalized in September 1972, bringing their approximately three-year marriage to an end before his biggest years of musical success.

What Happened After Their Divorce?

When the marriage ended, Jimmy reportedly left their Mercedes with Margie. He later suggested that she deserved it because she had dealt with his immature behavior as a young husband.

Jimmy then entered another stage of his life. He moved to Key West, Florida, a place that became extremely important in developing the coastal lifestyle, musical sound, and personality later associated with him.

Margie took a very different path. Instead of remaining connected with celebrity culture, she largely disappeared from widespread public attention and kept the later chapters of her life private.

Jimmy Buffett Wrote About His First Marriage

Jimmy Buffett later looked back at his early marriage while discussing his younger years. He included memories of this stage of life in his 1998 book A Pirate Looks at Fifty.

He remembered getting a record deal, marrying, moving to Nashville, working for Billboard, releasing music, struggling financially, divorcing, and eventually heading toward Key West.

These experiences happened during a period of major change in his life. Margie was connected with the beginning of that journey, before Jimmy found the musical direction that would eventually define his career.

Did Margie Washichek and Jimmy Buffett Have Children?

Margie Washichek and Jimmy Buffett did not have any publicly known children together. Their marriage lasted only a few years and ended while Jimmy was still in the early stages of his music career.

Jimmy later became a father during his marriage to his second wife, Jane Slagsvol. Their family included daughters Savannah Jane Buffett and Sarah “Delaney” Buffett and adopted son Cameron Marley Buffett.

Those children belong to Jimmy’s later family life with Jane. Details about whether Margie eventually became a mother through another relationship have remained outside her widely known public story.

Who Was Jimmy Buffett?

Jimmy Buffett was an American singer, songwriter, author, and businessman born on December 25, 1946, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He developed a distinctive musical identity inspired by coastal living, travel, relaxation, and island culture.

His breakthrough song “Margaritaville” was released in 1977. The song became one of his most recognizable works and eventually represented the relaxed lifestyle that Buffett built around his music and public personality.

His success eventually expanded far beyond music. Jimmy became involved with books, restaurants, entertainment, licensing, real estate, and other business ventures, creating a commercial empire around the lifestyle his songs represented.

Jimmy Buffett’s Second Wife

After his marriage to Margie ended, Jimmy eventually developed a long-lasting relationship with Jane Slagsvol. He reportedly met Jane in the early 1970s while she was visiting Key West during spring break.

Jimmy and Jane married in 1977. Although they experienced a period of separation during their relationship, they eventually reunited and remained husband and wife for the rest of Jimmy’s life.

They built a family together and had daughters Savannah Jane and Sarah “Delaney.” They also adopted their son Cameron Marley, making Jimmy a father of three during his second marriage.

Jimmy Buffett’s Death

Jimmy Buffett died on September 1, 2023. He was 76 years old and had lived through an extraordinary career that transformed him from a struggling young musician into an internationally recognized entertainer and businessman.

He had been living with Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare form of skin cancer. His death brought widespread attention to his music, career, business achievements, family, and different chapters of his personal life.

Jimmy remained married to Jane Slagsvol until his death. His marriage to Margie had ended more than 50 years earlier, making it part of a distant but important chapter in his personal history.

Margie Washichek’s Career

Margie played a small but interesting role during Jimmy Buffett’s earliest recording years. She visited Product Sound Studio and reportedly helped arrange some of his recording sessions while his career was developing.

However, this involvement does not appear to have developed into a widely documented professional music career. Her later employment and professional activities have remained largely outside interviews and media coverage.

Margie became increasingly private after her divorce. Unlike her former husband, she did not build a highly visible entertainment career or maintain a strong public presence connected with celebrity life.

Margie Washichek’s Net Worth

Margie Washichek’s exact net worth has remained private. Her later professional career, income, investments, property, and other financial details have not been discussed in detail through interviews or her public appearances.

Jimmy Buffett eventually became extremely successful through music and numerous business ventures. His financial position during his marriage to Margie, however, was very different from the fortune he accumulated later.

Margie and Jimmy divorced in 1972, years before “Margaritaville” became his breakthrough hit in 1977. Much of Buffett’s major commercial success therefore developed long after their marriage had ended.

Where Is Margie Washichek Now?

Margie Washichek largely stepped away from public attention following her divorce from Jimmy Buffett. Unlike many people connected with famous entertainers, she did not maintain a highly visible celebrity profile.

Her present residence and everyday activities have remained private. Information about later relationships or another marriage has similarly not become an important part of her public biography.

This privacy has made most interest in Margie focus on her younger years. Her college experiences, Miss USS Alabama title, early connection with Jimmy, and marriage remain the main parts of her known story.

Is Margie Washichek on Social Media?

Margie does not have a widely recognized public presence on major social media platforms. Her life has remained largely separate from the modern celebrity culture built around Instagram, Facebook, X, and similar platforms.

This fits the broader pattern of her life after her divorce. While Jimmy’s career became increasingly public, Margie moved away from the attention associated with being connected to a famous musician.

As a result, people searching for Margie today mainly find information about her early life and relationship with Buffett rather than regular updates about her present activities.

Final Thoughts

Margie Washichek is best remembered as Jimmy Buffett’s first wife, but her story includes more than their marriage. She attended Spring Hill College, became Miss USS Alabama, and witnessed part of Jimmy’s earliest musical journey.

Their relationship began before Buffett became a successful musician. They married in 1969, experienced his difficult early career years together, and eventually divorced in 1972 after approximately three years of marriage.

Margie later chose a private life while Jimmy went on to international fame. Her story remains closely connected with the fascinating early chapter before Buffett became the singer, businessman, and island-lifestyle icon known around the world.

(FAQs)

Who is Margie Washichek?

Margie Washichek is the first wife of American singer and songwriter Jimmy Buffett. She attended Spring Hill College and was also named Miss USS Alabama for 1967–68.

When did Margie Washichek marry Jimmy Buffett?

Margie Washichek married Jimmy Buffett in 1969. They were together during the early stage of Buffett’s music career, before he achieved major success with songs such as “Margaritaville.”

Why did Margie Washichek and Jimmy Buffett divorce?

Their marriage faced difficulties while Jimmy was still young and building his career. Buffett later described himself as immature during the marriage. Their divorce was finalized in September 1972.

Did Margie Washichek and Jimmy Buffett have children?

Margie Washichek and Jimmy Buffett had no publicly known children together. Buffett later became a father of three during his long marriage to his second wife, Jane Slagsvol.

Where is Margie Washichek now?

Margie largely moved away from public attention after her divorce from Jimmy Buffett. Her current residence, professional activities, and later personal life have remained private.