Jesse Winchester

Another piece of my past faded into memory yesterday, April 12^th. I just learned of the death of Jesse Winchester. I knew Jesse from our time spent in Montreal in the 70s. I was playing in a bar called The Fife and Drum on the corner of Bishop and Maisoneuve, right across the street from the main building of George Williams University. One block over on the corner of Crescent Street and Maisoneuve there was a folk club run by the university where Jesse performed frequently, a great favourite. I had his first album, a vinyl record, and from it I learned The Brand New Tennessee Waltz, Biloxi and Yankee Lady. I sang these songs along with a lot of old folk hits from groups like the Kingston Trio, The Weavers etc. but I loved to sing other acoustic hits of the time like American Pie, although my forte was Scottish and Irish songs, one of the favourites  being Seven Old Ladies. Jesse would drop by every so often and we’d have a beer together although I did not get to know him real well. My time spent in Montreal was a special time in my life and Jesse will always be a big part of that memory.