James Ridout Winchester (May 17, 1944 – April 11, 2014), known as Jesse Winchester, was an American musician and songwriter who was born and raised in the southern United States. To avoid the Vietnam War draft he moved to Canada in 1967, which is where and when he began his career as a solo artist. His highest charting recordings were of his own tunes, "Yankee Lady" in 1970 and "Say What" in 1981. He became a Canadian citizen in 1973, gained amnesty in the U.S. in 1977 and resettled there in 2002.

Winchester was probably best known as a songwriter, with his works being recorded by many notable artists, including Patti Page, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, Anne Murray, Reba McEntire, The Everly Brothers andEmmylou Harris. A number of these recordings have had success on various charts.

Early life

Born at Barksdale Army Air Field near Bossier City, Louisiana, Winchester was raised in northern Mississippi and the city of Memphis, Tennessee. Jesse, Jimmy in high school, received several honors while attending Christian Brothers High School. Graduating in 1962, he was a Merit Finalist, National Honor Society member and the Salutatorian of the graduating class. He attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, graduating in 1966. Upon receiving his draft notice the following year, Winchester moved to Montreal, Quebec to avoid military service.

Winchester had begun playing guitar in bands while still a high school student. He also played in Germany during college study abroad and after graduation. Upon arriving in Quebec in 1967, he joined a local band, Les Astronautes. At this time, he also began writing songs that he performed as a solo artist in coffee houses throughout eastern Canada. Under the auspices of The Band's Robbie Robertson, Winchester began his recording career in 1970 with his self-titled album, released on the Ampex label.

Career

Winchester released several albums during the 1970s. Due to his status as a draft resister, he was unable to tour in the United States. As a result, he became recognized primarily as a songwriter. His best known songs include "Yankee Lady", "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz", "Mississippi, You're on My Mind", "A Showman's Life", and "Biloxi". These and others have been recorded by numerous artists, including Jerry Jeff Walker, George Strait, Gary Allan, Patti Page, Elvis Costello,Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, Anne Murray, Reba McEntire, The Everly Brothers, Wynona Judd, The Weather Girls, New Grass Revival, Fairport Convention, Tim Hardin, Emmylou Harris, Ronnie Hawkins, Nicolette Larsen, Ted Hawkins, Ian Matthews, Colleen Peterson, Tom Rush, Brewer & Shipley, Raffi, Skydiggers and Wilson Pickett.

Winchester at the 2011 Blue Highways festival in Utrecht, The Netherlands

In 1974, Winchester often performed at the Hotel Le Chatelet in Morin Heights, Quebec run by several Tennesseans who had come to Canada in 1972. David 'Butch' McDade and Jeff 'Stick' Davis moved to Quebec to become part of Jesse Winchester and the Rhythm Aces. Winchester was the first to record the songs "Third Rate Romance" and "The End is Not in Sight", both written by Russel Smith. Smith traveled to Montreal to assist in the recording of the Learn to Love It album at Studio Six. Later Smith, Davis, and McDade became the original members of the The Amazing Rhythm Aces.

Upon his election in 1976, President Jimmy Carter declared he would grant amnestyto draft evaders, except those who had deserted or had become citizens of another country. Winchester had by this time become a Canadian citizen, but Barry Bozeman, his manager at the time, was able to convince Carter on Winchester's behalf to broaden the amnesty.

Winchester's first appearance in the U.S. thereafter was a sold out performance inBurlington Vermont on April 21, 1977. Rolling Stone magazine covered the event coining the phrase "the Greatest Voice of the Decade" to describe Winchester's vocal style.

Later career

He was nominated for the Best Country Male Vocalist award at the Juno Awards of 1990. In 2002, Winchester moved back to the United States, settling in Virginia. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 2007. Winchester has continued to record and perform throughout the United States and Canada, releasing his tenth studio album, Love Filling Station, in 2009.

In 2011, Winchester was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and had to undergo treatment for the next couple of months. Winchester was later given the all clear from his doctor and resumed his tour.

In April of 2014, Winchester was revealed to be "gravely ill" and receiving hospice care at his home. He died on the morning of April 11, 2014, at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Discography

Albums Year Album Chart Positions CAN US 1970 Jesse Winchester 26 — 1972 Third Down, 110 to Go 34 193 1974 Learn to Love It — — 1976 Let the Rough Side Drag — 210 1977 Nothing But a Breeze — 115 Live at the Bijou Cafe — — 1978 A Touch on the Rainy Side — 156 1981 Talk Memphis — 188 1988 Humour Me — — 1989 The Best of Jesse Winchester — — 1999 Gentleman of Leisure — — 2001 Live From Mountain Stage — — 2005 Live — — 2009 Love Filling Station — — Singles Year Single Chart Positions Album CAN CAN AC CAN Country US 1970 "Yankee Lady" 20 8 — — Jesse Winchester 1973 "Isn't That So" 34 21 — — Third Down, 110 to Go 1976 "Let the Rough Side Drag" — — 42 — Let the Rough Side Drag 1977 "Nothing but a Breeze" 72 — — 86 Nothing but a Breeze 1978 "Sassy" — 45 — — A Touch on the Rainy Side 1979 "A Touch on the Rainy Side" — 42 — — 1981 "Say What" 23 13 — 32 Talk Memphis 1989 "Want to Mean Something to You" — — 50 — Humour Me "Well-a-Wiggy" — — 68 — Appearances Year Album Song 2003 Beautiful: A Tribute to Gordon Lightfoot "Sundown"