Jesse Winchester, a U.S.-born singer-songwriter, died of cancer on Friday. He was 69.
Winchester was born in Louisiana and raised around the U.S. South, but he didn't begin his music career in earnest until moving to Quebec in 1967. There, he began performing solo in coffee houses around Montreal and the Canadian East Coast.
Winchester was a protege of the Band's Robbie Robertson, who produced and played guitar on Winchester's self-titled debut album and brought Band-mate Levon Helm along to play drums and mandolin.
Winchester's second album, 1972's "Third Down, 110 to Go" featured tracks produced by Todd Rundgren.
He continued to release material at a steady clip until 1981's "Talk Memphis," after which he took a seven-year break from recording. That album, however, contained Winchester's biggest U.S. hit, "Say What."
Although large-scale mainstream success eluded Winchester, his songs were covered by an array of musicians including Elvis Costello, Anne Murray, Wynona Judd, Emmylou Harris, the Everly Brothers, Jimmy Buffett and Joan Baez.
I can't say that I have heard of him. Sounds like he was successful as a song writer, even if he never garnered Big Fame. Cancer is a *bad word.*
ReplyDeleteI just got back from "Cruise To The Edge," and many of the artists on the ship were in the same age range as Jesse.
DeleteI'm not so far behind him.
You think you have all the time in the world...
LC
I hadn't heard of him, I admit it. But it sounds like he was an accomplished musician despite not getting that big time success.
ReplyDeleteMay he RIP!
A lot of the artists I follow do not have the huge success but get to live life the way they want to.
DeleteAnd that's something....
I had not heard of him either, but your comment above says it all. I know many artists that are this level of famous, and while some might say "it's a shame he wasn't a household name" I say this guy was obviously big enough to garner some attention and do what he wanted to do full time. I'd call that a successful life.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Bryan-not everyone is going to change the world, but making a living at what you love is a lot better than most of the world gets to do.
DeleteI hadn't heard this news, but I've heard Winchester's name mentioned since the early 70's. Though I knew of him, I don't recall ever hearing any of his music. I didn't have any of his albums and no one in the circles I ran in apparently listened to his music or at least didn't talk about it..
ReplyDeleteHe made his place in music history though kind of under the radar I guess.
My father and brother-in-law both died of cancer at age 67. I'm shooting for making it at least that far though I hope I can go beyond that. These days 69 seems so young especially when you still see a lot of rockers still performing and recording.
Hope you had a great cruise!
Lee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
Lee-
DeleteFirst off, I hope you're still blogging for a few decades yet!
I've got a few of JW's albums-heard of him through the Rundgren connection (big surprise there).
The cruise was good, although not quite as good as the last one (execution was not as smooth).
I'll have a post about it before long...but the cruise was one of the driving factors in not doing the A to Z this year...
LC
If he wrote music for others, then his legacy will definitely live on.
ReplyDelete