The Key West Art & Historical Society and Just A Few Friends Key West will host an afternoon of storytelling, music history and cultural exploration at Tropic Cinema with a Distinguished Speaker Series lecture titled “Yes, I am a Pirate.”
The event features author and Conch Scott Atwell, who will present his latest work uncovering the real-life inspiration behind one of Jimmy Buffett’s most iconic songs, “A Pirate Looks at Forty.”
Taking place on Friday, Aug. 29, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., the event offers an intimate look into the life of Phil Clark, the enigmatic figure who inspired Buffett’s legendary ballad. While the song conjures a poetic image of a romantic rogue, Atwell’s meticulously researched book, “Buffett Backstories,” reveals a far more complex character — one who transformed from New York socialite to tropical outlaw, leaving a wake of scandal, mystery and reinvention behind him.
“This isn’t just a story about one man,” says Atwell. “It’s a narrative that threads through the very fabric of Key West history and the mythos of Jimmy Buffett’s music.”
Following the lecture, Atwell will be joined on stage for a guest panel discussion, featuring individuals whose lives were directly touched by Clark:
- Carol Shaughnessy, writer and one of Clark’s former fiancées, who later became editor of Buffett’s “Coconut Telegraph” newsletter.
- Chris Robinson, veteran flats guide and former bartender at the legendary Chart Room, who lived below Jimmy Buffett in the Waddell Street compound.
- Flip McCririck, Clark’s first-born son and acclaimed sports photographer, who only recently discovered his father’s connection to Buffett’s legacy.
Atwell will also sell and sign copies of his book.
