American guitarist, keyboardist, vocalist Jesse (James Ridout) Winchester was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on May 17, 1944 and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended Williams College, in Williamstown, Massachusetts graduating in 1966. Upon receiving his draft notice in 1967, Winchester moved to Montreal, Quebec in protest of U.S. Government policies regarding the Vietnam War. He became a Canadian citizen in 1973. Williams College is a small, private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. ... Williamstown is a town located in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. ...

Winchester has recorded sporadically on several labels since 1970. Unable to tour in the U.S. until the 1977 Carter amnesty, he has become best known for his excellent songwriting, this despite being an equally accomplished singer and guitarist. His songs include "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz", "Mississippi, You're on My Mind", "Defying Gravity", "Biloxi" and "Free Wheeler" and have been recorded by artists such as Jimmy Buffett, Emmylou Harris, Joan Baez, Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and David Ball. His latest releases, "Gentleman Of Leisure" (1999) and "Live at Mountain Stage" (2001), underscore the fact that Jesse Winchester's music is as vibrant and poignant as ever. He remains an American treasure.

Website: jessewinchester.com