‘Occupational Hazard’ Rock Doc Details the Untold Story of Jimmy Buffett’s ‘Ragtag,’ Pre-Fame Coral Reefer Band
"Those were wild times," says director John H. Cunningham.
Jimmy Buffett's musical career is as iconic as the bands that influenced him, such as the E Street Band or The Heartbreakers. However, the story of the Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's pre-fame group, remains relatively unknown. A new documentary, Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefer, aims to change that. The film, which premiered in film festivals and theaters, is now available for rent on various platforms starting Oct.
30. Narrated by Jeff Bridges, the film presents a different side of the Coral Reefer Band, one that was less polished and more chaotic than the group became known for in the late '70s. The documentary focuses on the pre-fame era of the Coral Reefer Band, a time when the group was still finding its sound and direction. Director-producer John H. Cunningham and producer Ted E. Haynes, both longtime Buffett fans, were inspired to tell this story.
Cunningham, who first saw Buffett perform in 1977, moved to Key West shortly after, and soon met the Coral Reefer Band members. The filmmakers spent over a year gathering archival footage and conducting 25 hours of interviews to create the documentary. The resulting film showcases the early days of the Coral Reefer Band, when they were "wild" and "unfinished" but also when the band members were still passionate about their music.
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