Michael Utley Net Worth

What is Michael Utley's Net Worth?

Michael Utley is an American musician, songwriter, arranger, and record producer who has a net worth of $15 million. Michael Utley is best known for his extraordinarily long association with Jimmy Buffett, serving as the keyboardist and eventually musical director of Buffett's Coral Reefer Band while helping shape the sound of dozens of Buffett recordings.

Utley's relationship with Buffett began in 1973, when he played keyboards on "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean." What began as a session job developed into one of the longest creative partnerships in Buffett's career. Utley toured as a full-time Coral Reefer for more than four decades, became the band's musical director in the early 1990s, and produced or co-produced numerous Buffett albums, including "Floridays," "Hot Water," "License to Chill," and Buffett's final studio album, "Equal Strain on All Parts."

Beyond Buffett, Utley's credits span an unusually broad slice of American popular music. As a session musician, he recorded with artists including Aretha Franklin, Duane Allman, Jackson Browne, Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson, and Jerry Jeff Walker. He has also earned royalties as a songwriter and held a small ownership interest in the Margaritaville business empire.

Early Life

Michael Edward Utley was born on January 12, 1947, in Blytheville, Arkansas. Growing up within reach of Memphis, he was strongly influenced by Memphis soul as well as New Orleans rhythm and blues.

Utley attended the University of Arkansas, where he initially appeared headed toward a scientific career. He graduated in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in zoology and considered pursuing medicine.

Music ultimately won out. During spring break of his senior year, Utley had the opportunity to record with Bill Black's Combo in Memphis. After Tony Joe White scored a hit with "Polk Salad Annie," Utley was invited to play on White's next album. Instead of continuing toward medical school, he moved to Memphis and became a professional musician.

Session Musician

Utley's career expanded rapidly during the early 1970s. Legendary Atlantic Records executive Jerry Wexler brought him into the orbit of Criteria Studios in Miami, where Utley became associated with the Dixie Flyers and worked as a session keyboardist.

The job placed him in recording sessions with an impressive collection of performers. Over the years, his credits included Aretha Franklin, Sam & Dave, Brook Benton, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Jimmy Cliff, Duane Allman, Petula Clark, Jackson Browne, and Booker T. Jones.

Utley also toured with Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge and served as musical director for the band Speedway in the 1976 film "A Star Is Born."

Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band

Utley's defining professional relationship began in 1973. Jimmy Buffett heard him playing on a Jerry Jeff Walker record and asked him to contribute keyboards to "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean," Buffett's first album for ABC/Dunhill.

Utley continued playing on Buffett records throughout the 1970s while maintaining other session and touring work. He ultimately became a full-time member of the Coral Reefer Band in 1981 and remained one of Buffett's closest musical collaborators for the rest of Buffett's life.

In 1993, Utley became musical director of the Coral Reefer Band. His responsibilities extended far beyond playing keyboards. He helped arrange songs, assemble musicians, oversee the sound of live shows, and translate Buffett's increasingly elaborate recordings into concert performances.

Utley's importance to the Buffett operation even received a playful acknowledgment on "Volcano," where Buffett famously calls out "Mr. Utley" before a keyboard passage.

Producing and Songwriting

Utley gradually became one of Buffett's most important record producers. The University of Arkansas has credited him with producing approximately 20 Buffett albums.

His production credits include "One Particular Harbour," "Floridays," "Hot Water," and the 2004 album "License to Chill," which became Buffett's first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. Utley later worked frequently alongside fellow Coral Reefer Mac McAnally, including on Buffett's posthumously released 2023 album "Equal Strain on All Parts."

Utley was also a songwriting collaborator. He co-wrote a significant portion of Buffett's 1984 album "Riddles in the Sand" and shared credits on songs including "Knees of My Heart," "Ragtop Day," "Survive," "Who's the Blonde Stranger," "When the Wild Life Betrays Me," and "Please Bypass This Heart."

His songwriting interests were administered in part through his own publishing operation, Coconutley Music.

Utley and steel-drum player Robert Greenidge also developed a musical partnership outside Buffett's primary catalog, recording albums including "Mad Music," "Jubilee," "Heat," "Club Trini," and "Back in Town."

Margaritaville Ownership

Utley's relationship with Buffett extended into business. Nevada gaming regulatory filings made public during Margaritaville's casino licensing process revealed that Utley owned a 0.475% membership interest in Margaritaville Holdings.

Although far smaller than Buffett's position in the company, the ownership interest gave Utley a direct stake in the business that grew from a Key West merchandise store into an international licensing and hospitality operation encompassing restaurants, resorts, residential developments, merchandise, and other ventures.

Utley also served for a period as vice president of artists and repertoire at Margaritaville Records.

Real Estate

Utley formerly owned a substantial property in the Leiper's Fork area outside Franklin, Tennessee. In 2004, he listed the 52-acre estate for $1.4 million.

The property featured a contemporary home with extensive porches and an outdoor shower, along with a separate guest residence, a barn, and a large pond. Property records indicate the estate changed hands around 2005.

Utley later established himself in Venice, California. Public business filings show that he and his wife operated their music publishing businesses from Venice.

Personal Life and Later Career

Michael is married to Frances Eve Utley. Their son, Mick Utley, followed his father into music and became a keyboardist with the Coral Reefer Band. Mick is married to Erin McAnally, the daughter of longtime Coral Reefer musician Mac McAnally.

After Jimmy Buffett died in 2023, Michael stepped away from full-time touring. Mick assumed his father's keyboard role as the Coral Reefer Band continued performing Buffett's music.

In addition to his recording and touring career, Utley orchestrated the Jimmy Buffett jukebox musical "Escape to Margaritaville." He was inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame in 2013 and has received honors from the University of Arkansas for a career that ultimately took him very far from the zoology degree with which he began his professional life.

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