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Biography
Jesse Winchester (born James Ridout Winchester on 17 May 1944 in Bossier City, Louisiana; died 11 April 2014 in Charlottesville, Virginia) was an American-Canadian musician and songwriter. His best-known songs include "Yankee Lady", "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz", "Mississippi, You're on My Mind", and "Biloxi"; his song "Step by Step" was used in the final episode of HBO's 'The Wire's' first season. Many notable artists recorded his songs, including Patti Page, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Buffett, Joan Baez, Anne Murray, Reba McEntire, The Everly Brothers and Emmylou Harris. In 2007 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He moved to Canada in 1967 to avoid being drafted and became a Canadian citizen in 1973; he gained amnesty in the U.S. in 1977 and resettled in Memphis, Tennessee in 2002.
Winchester was born in Bossier City, Louisiana, his father being stationed at Barksdale Field. He was raised both in the country (on farms owned by his parents) and in the city of Memphis, Tennessee, and attended Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, graduating in 1966. After touring Germany and upon receiving his draft notice in 1967, Winchester relocated to Montreal, Quebec. He became a Canadian citizen in 1973, and married his first wife Leslie. After many years in Montreal and after his divorce, he established his personal studio at Saint Georges de Beauce, Quebec, and resided there for some years before moving back to Memphis in 2002. Married to his wife Cindy, he lately resided in Charlottesville, Virginia. Winchester had three children from his first marriage, Alice Evangeline, James Ridout and Marcus Lee.
