When Jimmy Buffett's show rolls into an amphitheater such as Alpine Valley near East Troy, the focus is often on the eccentrically dressed Parrothead fans, a sea of beach balls and inflatable sharks and alcohol-soaked tailgate celebrations.

What doesn't often get recognized is the 11-piece band providing the soundtrack for the never-ending party.

What's remarkable about the group of musicians that Buffett has chosen for his Coral Reefer Band is that it isn't just a ragtag group of background musicians who will back Buffett for his sold-out show Saturday at Alpine Valley Music Theatre.

In fact, many people might be surprised to learn that the group that creates the live sound behind "Margaritaville" and "Fins" includes a Christian recording artist, a few Grammy-winning songwriters, a former member of Arrested Development, revered studio musicians who have appeared on records with Aretha Franklin, Kris Kristofferson and James Taylor, and an award-winning children's recording artist.

"Jimmy is the reason people come to the shows," said Michael Utley, the band's keyboardist and musical director. "But when they get there, it is our part to make sure they have a good time and see a good show."

Having played on Buffett's albums since his 1973 major-label debut, "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean," and having been a part of his various touring bands since the late 1970s, Utley has been able to watch Buffett's transition from a coffee-house artist who played shows with the likes of Steve Goodman and Jerry Jeff Walker to stadium-filling Caribbean icon.

"I remember sitting in on a show in Atlanta around 1974 and there were 30 people there," Utley said, recalling that while there was a bump in attendance after the 1977 success of "Margaritaville," he first noticed Buffett's fan base increasing (and increasingly dressing in lavish costumes) in the mid-1980s.

"It is amazing to me," percussionist Ralph MacDonald said, describing Buffett's devoted mass of colorful fans. A highly successful songwriter who has penned hits including "Just the Two of Us" and "Where is the Love," MacDonald said the Buffett fan experience is reminiscent of the festive atmosphere that he saw when he was part of Harry Belafonte's band in the 1960s.

Jim Mayer - a bassist who began touring with Buffett in 1989 after Buffett used his band in the recording of "Off to See the Lizard" - had never seen anything quite like Parrotheads.

"It was unbelievable," Mayer said. "We walked out onto the big stage in San Diego and I had no clue what was coming. There were so many points during the show that I would look out and see some kind of shark contraption making its way around the crowd. I was laughing so hard."

Together and separately, the musicians in the band have taken the opportunity to use one another's collective talents and the extended time away from touring that Buffett's relaxed schedule offers to better their own personal projects. And Buffett often turns to the musicians for ideas in his live shows and his albums.

"Jimmy knows what he does well," Utley said. "But he also knows his limitations. He's always asking for our insights. He has his own opinions, but if we come up with something that will add to a show, a song or an album, he'll always listen."

Keyboards/musical director

Michael Utley left behind pre-medical course work in the late 1960s to become a studio musician. He has performed with Kris Kristofferson, Rita Coolidge, Aretha Franklin, Jimmy Cliff and more. He has appeared on Buffett's albums since 1973. Together with Robert Greenidge, Utley created the band Club Trini, which continues to perform Caribbean party music and is composed of most of the Coral Reefer Band.

Steel drums

Born in Trinidad, Greenidge is one of the world's pre-eminent steel drum artists. Greenidge started playing with Buffett in 1983 during the recording of "One Particular Harbour."

While in the Coral Reefer Band, he and Michael Utley recorded three albums together in the 1980s as Club Trini. Their 2000 live album, "Margaritaville Café: Late Night Live" featured Buffett doing guest vocals on an album performed by most of his Coral Reefer band. Greenidge is an arranger and composer for the 30-piece Desperadoes steel drum orchestra in his home country.

Bass

Jim Mayer, who was born to missionaries in India, said he had known since he was 5 years old that he would make music for a living. Since joining the Coral Reefer Band in 1989, Mayer has recorded two award-winning children's albums under the "Uncle Jim" moniker.

"The first time I played 'Margaritaville' with Jimmy, I still had a punk haircut," Mayer said. "I really now appreciate the opportunities I've had with this band."

Guitars

To call Mac McAnally a jack-of-all-trades is an understatement. He was the first musician signed to Geffen records, before John Lennon and Elton John. Outside of his 10 solo albums, McAnally has been responsible for a number of country radio hits. Since Buffett first recorded one of his songs in 1981, country artists have had hits with McAnally's songs, including Sawyer Brown's "All These Years," Alabama's "Old Flame" and Kenny Chesney's "Back Where I Come From." Garth Brooks, Ricky Skaggs and George Strait have also recorded his songs. He's also a seasoned session musician and record producer who has worked with Little Feat, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison and many others.

Trumpet

He was working at Circuit City when a friend told him to send a tape to Jimmy Buffett's people, who were looking for a trumpeter for the 1992 summer tour. "I listened to all kinds of music, but I wasn't too aware of how popular Jimmy Buffett was," Lovell said. Circuit City "was the first time I had ever had a real job, so this seemed like something I should do." He's been a Coral Reefer ever since. When not playing with Buffett, Lovell plays weekly with a swing/jazz combo, Oop Bop Sha Bam, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Percussion

Ralph MacDonald is not only a Grammy award-winning, bestselling songwriter ("Just the Two of Us," "Where is the Love"), but also a sought-after studio musician who has appeared on records with James Taylor, Diana Ross, Roberta Flack and more. He played with Harry Belafonte for nearly a decade. Since he'd worked with Robert Greenidge, Buffett asked MacDonald to write some songs with him in the mid-1980s.

"Jimmy convinced me to try playing in his band for two weeks in 1986," MacDonald said. "I guess it worked out, because I've been there ever since then."

Steel guitar

Doyle Grisham first worked with Buffett in the studio in 1971. After working on three more albums in as many years, Buffett started moving away from steel guitar in his music. Grisham went on to be a sought-after session musician and a talented producer and studio engineer who performed on albums with Reba McEntire, George Jones, Randy Travis and others. He also owns a recording studio and publishing company in Mississippi. In 1999, Buffett asked Grisham again to work on an entire album with him and asked him to join the Coral Reefer Band.

"I have learned by watching Jimmy Buffett that it takes more than just going out and singing to achieve the admiration his fans have for him," Grisham said. "He knows how to entertain them and gives them what they came for."

Guitar

Along with his brother Jim, Peter Mayer joined Buffett's band after signing a record deal with Warner Bros. for their own band, PM. Mayer has gone on to become an award-winning Christian recording artist whose annual "Stars and Promises" Christmas tours visit churches and theaters throughout the country.

"The people in the Coral Reefer Band are awesome people," Mayer said. "For me, their strengths and their stylistic strong points taught me things about playing that I didn't have myself."

Drums

Roger Guth is a drummer from St. Louis who grew up with a love of jazz and developed a knack for songwriting. When he and the Mayer brothers were asked to work with Buffett on "Off to See the Lizard" in 1988, Guth ended up co-writing three tracks on the album with Buffett. He has since continued to perform with the Coral Reefer Band, as well as write and record his own work and music for Buffett and Peter Mayer.

Vocals

Nadirah Shakoor was a member of Arrested Development from 1992 to 1995 and was nominated for a Grammy. She has released a solo album in Japan and two independent albums in the United States.

Known by Parrotheads for her soulful, soaring vocals onstage with the Coral Reefer Band, Shakoor also led the vocal stylings for Club Trini's live album. She is preparing to release "Nod to the Storyteller," an album composed mostly of her interpretations of Buffett songs. The album will feature many of the Coral Reefer Band members.

Vocals

Tina Gullickson jumped into the entertainment world as a model and local TV host as a teen. She has appeared on "Star Search" and worked with Tori Amos, Bill Medley and others.

Since joining the Coral Reefer Band in 1995, Gullickson has partnered with other band members on various projects, including a spot as executive producer and stylist for Peter Mayer's "Shall We Dance" music video.