PARROT HEADS FLOCK TO FESTIVAL THROUGH NOV. 5

KEY WEST, Florida Keys - Several thousand fervent fans of singer/songwriter/author Jimmy Buffett, known as Parrot Heads, are following the Key West-inspired Buffett's footsteps to the United States' southernmost city. The 15th annual Parrot Heads in Paradise Meeting of the Minds convention, titled "Island Daze," continues through Sunday, Nov. 5, in Key West.

Buffett's home during some of his most productive years, Key West is credited with inspiring his hit song "Margaritaville" as well as albums such as "A1A," named for the highway leading to the island city. His lyrics are rich in references to Key West spots such as Fausto's Food Palace, the Blue Heaven Restaurant and the Chart Room Bar. His songs memorialize Key West characters like Captain Tony Tarracino and the late Phil Clark, whose real-life exploits unfold in "A Pirate Looks at 40."

In the mid-1980s Buffett founded the Margaritaville Store in Key West's Lands End Village. Today located on Duval Street beside the entertainer's Margaritaville Café, it remains one of the island's most popular visitor destinations and a Mecca for Parrot Heads.

Events during the flock's 2006 convention are to include concerts by Buffett band members and friends, beachside musical performances, charity auctions and raffles, a street festival with live music and an oceanfront "Beach Bash" at the Casa Marina Resort, 1500 Reynolds St.

While Buffett occasionally makes a surprise visit to Key West for the convention, several members of his Coral Reefer Band are definitely scheduled to showcase their talents. Among them are pedal steel guitar player Doyle Grisham, songwriter/performer Mac McAnally, keyboard master Michael Utley and steel drum wizard Robert Greenidge, headlining the band Club Trini; backup singer Tina Gullickson, and the Peter Mayer Group starring the Reefers' guitar player Peter Mayer, bass player Jim Mayer and drummer Roger Guth.

Regional and Parrot Head favorites Scott Kirby, Jim Morris & The Big Bamboo Band, Tropical Soul and John Frinzi are among the other scheduled performers.

Most convention activities are open only to registered members of Parrot Head clubs, but the public was invited to attend the Margaritaville/Paradise Charitable Foundation Street Fest, planned for 1-6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, adjacent to Margaritaville at Duval and Fleming streets.

Street Fest entertainment is to be provided by Club Trini and McAnally, both performing with the Jonathan Birchfield Band, and Tropical Soul featuring Gullickson and Scott Bryan.

As well as sharing an appreciation for Buffett's music and the Caribbean atmosphere it promotes, Parrot Head club members focus on charitable, environmental, educational and humanitarian activities. In 2005, members of the more than 200 national and international Parrot Head chapters contributed more than $2.7 million and more than 663,500 volunteer hours to local and national charities.

For more information about the Parrot Heads' convention in Key West, visit the Meeting of the Minds section of the Parrot Head clubs' official Web site at www.phip.com.

For information about lodging in Key West, call 1-800-LAST-KEY (800-527-8539) or explore this Web site.