Jesse Winchester

Jesse Winchester
Winchester in 2011
Background information
Birth name	James Ridout Winchester
Born	May 17, 1944 (1944-05-17) (age 67) Bossier City, Louisiana, U.S.
Origin	Memphis, Tennessee
Genres	Country, country-rock, folk
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, keyboards
Years active	c.1961–present
Labels	Appleseed, Bearsville, Stony Plain, Ampex, Victor, Sugar Hill, Great Big Island, Wounded Bird, Blue Plate
Website	jessewinchester.com

Jesse Winchester (born James Ridout Winchester; May 17, 1944) is a 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.^[1]

Winchester is probably most well 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 and Emmylou Harris.^[2][3] A number of these recordings have had success on various charts.^[4]

Biography

Born in Bossier City, Louisiana, Winchester was raised in northern Mississippi and the city of Memphis, Tennessee. 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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Winchester released several albums during the '70s. However, due to his status as a draft dodger, 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", and "Biloxi". These and others have been recorded by numerous artists, including 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.^{[citation needed]}

In 1977, President Jimmy Carter granted draft resisters unconditional amnesty. Winchester subsequently began performing in the U.S., with his first appearance being in Burlington, Vermont on April 21 of that year. 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.^[5] Winchester has continued to record and perform throughout the United States and Canada, releasing his tenth studio album, Love Filling Station, in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011 Jesse Winchester was diagnosed with cancer of the aesophagus and had to undergo treatment for the next couple of months. Winchester has since been given the all clear from his doctor and has resumed his tour. ^[6]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Compilation inclusions

Citations

References

• http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/W/Winchester_Jesse.html
• http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003713
• http://www.thespec.com/whatson/music/article/500966--jesse-winchester-still-doing-the-rhumba
• http://www.ascap.com/network/audioportraits/Jesse_Winchester/
• http://www.rootsmusic.ca/2010/04/14/jesse-winchester/
• http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1628390/singer-songwriter-jesse-winchesters-wife-insisted-on-a-new-album.jhtml
• http://www.puremusic.com/90jw1.html
• radio interview at WRN
• HOTSEAT- Southern gent? Folk legend moves to town
• Fame & Fortune: Jesse Winchester

External links

• Official site
• Jesse Winchester at Appleseed Recordings
• Jesse Winchester at Allmusic