Jesse Winchester is the stage name of musician James Ridout Winchester (born May 17, 1944, in Shreveport, Louisiana). His best-known songs include "Yankee Lady", "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz", "Mississippi, You're on My Mind", and "Biloxi" - and "Step by Step" was used in the final episode of HBO's 'The Wire's first season. 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. ...show more

Jesse Winchester is the stage name of musician James Ridout Winchester (born May 17, 1944, in Shreveport, Louisiana). His best-known songs include "Yankee Lady", "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz", "Mississippi, You're on My Mind", and "Biloxi" - and "Step by Step" was used in the final episode of HBO's 'The Wire's first season. 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 now lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Winchester has three children from his first marriage, Alice Evangeline, James Ridout and Marcus Lee. After playing with the Astronautes in Quebec, and while appearing as a solo performer in coffee houses throughout eastern Canada, he was introduced to Robbie Robertson (then of The Band ) and Albert Grossman (then manager of Bob Dylan). Winchester made his first album, the acclaimed "Jesse Winchester" (which included his classic 'Yankee Lady,' 'Brand New Tennessee Waltz,' and 'Biloxi') with Grossman as his manager and Robertson as producer, which was released on the Bearsville label. He subsequently toured in Canada as an opening act for The Band. ...show less