Singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester dies at 69

Singer-songwriter and anti-war icon Jesse Winchester passed away on Friday at the age of 69.

The cause of death was said to be from bladder cancer according to Rolling Stone, but CMT News notes that he also had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2011, though RS says he beat it.

During a span of nearly 40 years, Winchester released 10 albums though none ever did particularly well, but did have several singles, such as "Biloxi," "Yankee Lady" and "The Brand New Tennessee Waltz," become popular and go on to be used by other musicians.

He was well remembered enough in the music scene that a tribute album Quiet About It: A Tribute to Jesse Winchester was released by Mac McAnally two years ago. The album featured James Taylor, Jimmy Buffet and others covering some of his well-known songs.

Rolling Stone notes that Winchester became known in the 1960s after he went to Canada in an effort to avoid the draft. He said later, "I was so offended by someone's coming up to me and presuming to tell me who I should kill and what my life was worth."

While up in Canada, he met with the Band's Robbie Robertson in Ottawa, who hooked him up with his band's manager, who then helped Winchester release his self-titled debut in 1970. Robertson said, "We had to do it in Canada because he was a conscientious objector to the war in Vietnam and was avoiding the draft."

Promotion for his first several albums struggled due to Winchester not being able to return to the U.S. until 1977 when President Jimmy Carter pardoned him. Even then, Winchester remained in Canada for several more years.