Jimmy Buffet, in keeping with what has become his tradition of late, opens the new touring year with a series of February dates in the southeastern U.S.

The Pascagoula, Miss., native's winter tour is scheduled to make stops at arenas in Georgia, the Carolinas and Florida. He is expected to tour amphitheaters later this year.

"Far Side of the World," Buffett's latest album, was released in March of 2002. The CD, produced by Russ Titleman (Eric Clapton, James Taylor), is Buffett's first studio album since 1999's "Beach House on the Moon," and is also his first studio album for his self-run label, Mailboat Records. Mailboat released "Buffett Live: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays" in 1999.

Buffett, who has released 33 albums, has been one of the most consistent draws on the summer amphitheater circuit for more than two decades. Though his 2001 tour visited only 29 cities, it grossed $26.9 million and ranked as the No. 13 tour on Pollstar’s year-end list. His 2002 tour grossed $27.7 million, and ranked at No. 10 in Billboard's year-end rankings.

According to the Palm Beach Post, Buffett traveled to Guantanamo Bay Navy Base in Cuba last month, where he and a percussionist entertained the troops who are guarding the 600-plus suspected terrorists and Taliban fighters who are detained there.