1982 Top 10 Storytelling Smash With a Jimmy Buffett Vibe Was a Breakout Hit

Lucille BarillaSun, April 19, 2026 at 10:34 AM UTC

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In 1982, a storytelling song that had a distinct Jimmy Buffett vibe became a breakout hit.

"Key Largo" was Bertie Higgins breakout and biggest hit. The song was the debut single from the 1982 album Just Another Day in Paradise and became his only top 40 hit in the U.S., reaching No. 8 on the charts.

The song’s acoustic guitars and laid-back tempo fit firmly within the “tropical-pop” genre synonymous with the Buffett lifestyle. However, Higgins’ first and biggest hit expanded on that sound, blending breezy storytelling with a more polished, mainstream appeal that helped define his breakthrough success.

Higgins credited the song's inspiration to his wife, Beverly Seabourg. He shared the origin story to "Key Largo" with The Huffington Post in 2017.

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Higgins explained, "This song was inspired by the true love of my life, Beverly. We spend a great deal of time in the Florida Keys swimming in the turquoise water in the day time and watching old black and white movies at night. Bogart was our favorite."

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"We split up and the pain that I went through inspired the song. We got back together with the success of 'Key Largo,' married and had two wonderful boys."

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The singer/songwriter told PM Magazine in 1981 that he faced hard times before finding success in the music business after 15 years as an artist. He admitted, "Hard times made me strive that much harder to get out of the hole."

RELATED: 1982 Country Classic That Almost Wasn’t Played on the RadioSeabourg was featured alongside Higgins in the interview. She said that hearing him profess his love in "Key Largo," showed her "that I think we will survive, I think we're gonna make it."

In November 2025, Billboard reported that Bertie Higgins sold his music catalog to Reservoir Media. It encompasses his publishing and master recording rights throughout his career, which included over 20 LPs.

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This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”