Jesse Winchester

James Ridout "Jesse" Winchester Jr. (May 17, 1944 – April 11, 2014) was an American-Canadian musician and songwriter. He was born and raised in the southern United States. Opposed to the Vietnam War, he moved to Canada in 1967 to avoid the draft. During that time, he began his career as a solo artist. His highest-charting recordings were "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 settled in Memphis, Tennessee in 2002.

Winchester's songs were recorded by Patti Page, Elvis Costello, Brewer & Shipley, Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, Jerry Garcia, Anne Murray, The Weather Girls, Reba McEntire, the Everly Brothers, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, George Strait, Gary Allan, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Warnes, The Mavericks, Jerry Jeff Walker and Michael Stanley. Some of these recordings achieved chart positions.

Winchester was one of three children born to James Ridout Winchester Sr. (1917–1962) and Frances Ellyn Manire Winchester (1920–2010). He was born at Barksdale Army Air Field, near Bossier City, Louisiana, and raised in northern Mississippi through age 12, when his family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School in Memphis in 1962 as a merit finalist, a National Honor Society member and the salutatorian of his class. He graduated from Williams College, in Williamstown, Massachusetts, in 1966. Upon receiving his draft notice the following year, Winchester moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to avoid the draft.

Winchester began his career in Germany. Upon arriving in Quebec in 1967, he joined a local band, Les Astronautes. He began writing songs, which he performed as a solo artist at the Montreal Folk Workshop and at coffeehouses throughout eastern Canada. Discovered by the Band's Robbie Robertson, Winchester released his album Jesse Winchester, produced by Robertson. He toured Canada, opening for the Band.

Winchester released albums in the 1970s, but was unable to support the albums by touring in the U.S. because of his status of being a draft dodger.

A prolific songwriter, Winchester's songs include "Yankee Lady", "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz", "Mississippi, You're on My Mind", "A Showman's Life","Biloxi", "That's a Touch I Like", and "Every Word You Say".

Upon his election in 1976, President Jimmy Carter granted amnesty to draft evaders, except those who had become citizens of other countries. Although Winchester had become a Canadian citizen, Barry Bozeman, his manager, convinced Carter to allow Winchester amnesty.

On June 10, Winchester appeared with Little Feat, Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt on Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special.