Jimmy Buffett plans beach benefit show in Gulf Shores!

Jimmy Buffett plans beach benefit show Updated: Sunday, 20 Jun 2010, 9:40 PM CDT Published : Sunday, 20 Jun 2010, 9:40 PM CDT Renee Dials Photographer: La-Keya Stinchcomb GULF SHORES, Ala. (WALA) - The oil washing up on Alabama's shores have been hurting tourism and fishing. Alabama beaches could get a much needed boost thanks to an announcement from Jimmy Buffett. Buffett is planning a benefit concert in Gulf Shores next month in hopes of getting folks back on the beach. It looks like a perfect day at Gulf Shores, beautiful sand, calm waters, and plenty of sunshine. The only thing missing are the crowds of people who normally pack the public beach during summer weekends. John Johnson says right now it's the negative image, not the oil that's killing the economy in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. "And, that's the biggest thing that's hurt us so far," said Johnson. Johnson is hoping Jimmy Buffett's upcoming concert can turn things around. "I think it's going to be pretty good for the gulf coast. Big names coming down here doing a concert and stuff like that," he added. Debbie Booth is down from Tennessee. She agrees a big name concert could draw the crowds back. "I think so, I would come and see Jimmy. But, I like the beach too so we'd come," Booth said. A look at the Perdido Beach Boulevard gives you an idea of how the area as been affected. It's the middle of June and the main highway is usually bumper to bumper, but it's not. Frank and Karen Bell are visiting from Ohio. They say people across the nation are scared of what they're seeing in the news. Bell says they're missing out. "We've been down here probably a dozen times over the last eight or nine years and we really expected a lot more. I'm guessing there's less than a third of the number that would normally be here, but I think perhaps the news media has scared them off. And I really think that if they would come down they would find that it's just a nice a place as they could ever go to," said Frank Bell. A lot of folks are hoping Jimmy Buffett will get that message across at a time when it's really needed. "Honestly, I think it's great. Anything is going to help at this point," said Gulf Shores resident Zach Warner. The concert is scheduled for July 1, 2010. The location has not been announced.