Jesse Winchester

Folk / country / rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jesse Winchester was born James Winchester, Jr. in Bossier City, Louisiana on May 17, 1944. Although he maintained a popular career as a solo artist, his songs were covered by a variety of artists including Jimmy Buffett, the Everly Brothers, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Elvis Costello, Joan Baez, George Strait, the Weather Girls, and many others. Jesse Winchester began his musical journey playing guitar in several high school bands before graduating and moving to Germany to continue his studies and play in bands abroad. Moving back to the US, he relocated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1967 to avoid being drafted into the military. Forming a local band, he began writing songs and became interested in the folk music boom. Signing with the Ampex label, his 1970 self-titled debut album was produced by The Band’s Robbie Robertson and engineered by Todd Rundgren. The album reached the Top 30 in Canada and included the Canadian Top 20 single “Yankee Girl.” The debut was followed by 1972’s Third Down, 110 to Go, which climbed to number 36 in Canada and contained the Top 40 single “Isn’t That So.” Because he evaded the draft, Jesse Winchester was not legally able to enter or perform in the US, so he was not able to promote his releases. In 1976, President Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to all those who had evaded the draft, so Jesse Winchester made his first live appearance in the US in April 1977. Two months later, he appeared on the popular rock variety show The Midnight Special. Three years later, he scored his only Top 40 hit with “Say What.” He moved back to the US in 2002 and continued to record albums and tour in both the US and Canada. In 2007, Jesse Winchester was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Jesse Winchester died from bladder cancer on April 11, 2014, at the age of 69.

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