Jesse Winchester Dies at His Home

Jesse Winchester, the singer-songwriter who helped shape music in both the country and pop genres, died on April 11, 2014 at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia surrounded by family.

After being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2011, Winchester battled the disease for three years, finally having hospice care at his home in the last days of his life.

His family posted the news on his facebook, saying, "Friends, our sweet Jesse died peacefully in his sleep this morning. Bless his loving heart."

The Shreveport, Louisiana native moved to Canada in 1967 in protest of the Vietnam War draft. After President Carter granted unconditional pardons to those who left the country in 1977, Jesse was free to come home, but he stayed in Canada for several years.

Winchester's music was a blend of country, folk and blues. His biggest hit was the 1981, Say What. Artists like Buddy Miller, George Strait, Patti Page, the Everly Brothers and Joan Baez covered songs by Jesse like "A Showman's Life," "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz" and "You're on My Mind."

In 2012, a tribute album was released that featured James Taylor, Roseanne Cash, Jimmy Buffett, Allen Toussaint, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams, Little Feat, and Rodney Crowell, among others.

One last Jesse Winchester album, A Reasonable Amount of Trouble, was recorded in his final years. it is expected to be released later this year.