Before he took office in 1999, former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman received a call he said he’d forever be grateful for.

It was from Jimmy Buffett, saying he’d perform his version of “Stars Fell on Alabama” at the inauguration.

“It was really perfect timing for the way Alabama was feeling at that moment,” Siegelman, a Democrat who served from 1999-2003, told AL.com Saturday. “It was a time when, I felt, that Alabama believed in itself.”

Buffett, the “Margaritaville” singer and Gulf Coast music legend, died Friday night at the age of 76.

“Jimmy passed away peacefully on the night of September 1st surrounded by his family, friends, music and dogs,” a statement posted to Buffett’s official website and social media pages said late Friday. “He lived his life like a song till the very last breath and will be missed beyond measure by so many.”

Known for his folksy, Caribbean-inspired songs that celebrated the simplicity of island life, Buffett’s influence stretched far and wide. Throughout the late 1970s and into the 2000s, Buffett had built a multimillion dollar brand and soon became one of the nation’s richest celebrities.

Buffett’s songs often evoked a sense of escapism and humor, and, off-stage, he stood out for his frequent support of humanitarian causes. Later in his career, he made headlines for his digs at former President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders, changing some of the lyrics in his songs to criticize right-wing environmental policies.

On Saturday morning, tributes poured in from other music legends, celebrities and state and national leaders.

“Like many Alabamians, I am saddened to learn of Jimmy Buffet’s passing,” Gov. Kay Ivey posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Saturday. “Truly, the stars fell on Alabama’s shores with his music, and there will never be another quite like him who can capture the spirit of our Gulf Coast. Rest easy, Jimmy.”

Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones recalled a special serenade from the singer in Key West, following his election in 2017.

‘He lived life to the fullest and the world will miss him,” Jones wrote.

Buffett, a Mississippi native, grew up in Mobile, where he attended McGill-Toolen Catholic High School. Siegelman, also from Mobile, said the two shared mutual friends, but he didn’t get to know him well until later in life.

“It goes without saying that he was a great songwriter and singer, but what I loved about his songs was that he teased our imagination,” Siegelman said. “His songs sparked this adventurous spirit in our hearts.”

Siegelman remembered one particular concert, where he looked around and was overjoyed to see a diverse crowd unified by “the joy of song.”

“He was just really a special man, a great humanitarian, of course a great adventurer,” Siegelman said. “But he brought people together in a way that made them happy, and in a way that only great communicators can do.”

“He did not and should not take a backseat in history,” he added.