Lem Winchester born 19 March 1928

Lem Winchester (March 19, 1928 – January 13, 1961) had great potential as aa American vibraphonist but it was all cut short by a tragic accident. 

Lemuel Winchester came from humble beginnings; he was born in Wilmington, Delaware to Marian Davis, a single mother. William Wilkerson took them both in, and married Davis. But he introduced baby Lemuel to his relatives the Winchesters, who eventually adopted him. Together, Lem’s mom and William Wilkerson had fourteen children  including Millie, who was later to become Millie Cannon, a well-known jazz vocalist in the area. Lem grew up directly across the street from his mother and multiple step-siblings and it was that proximity that helped forge a musical connection. 

His musical ability developed at a young age and he learnt to play the piano and the vibraphone. But Lem’s quality of life differed from his fourteen step siblings. Lem’s adopted father William Winchester made a good salary as a city councilman and managed to get him a job as a policeman. As a police officer however, Winchester was violating police regulations by working as a weekend musician in his home town and in Philadelphia jazz spots. He made an appearance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival. He was soon working with some of the top names in jazz, making his debut recording with pianist Ramsey Lewis. 

                              

Winchester recorded a handful of albums as a leader, and made sideman appearances with the likes of saxophonist Oliver Nelson, and organists Jack McDuff and Shirley Scott. Most of his recordings were with Prestige Records. Critic Scott Yanow has suggested that while Winchester's playing was strongly influenced by Milt Jackson, but he "did not stick around long enough to carve out his own original voice" on the vibraphone. So, having recorded few highly praised albums, after eleven years of trying to decide between pounding a beat and keeping one, he turned in his badge and gun in the summer of 1960 and joined the jazz fraternity full time. 

Winchester died at age 32 in the early hours of Friday, January 13, 1961. He was leading his quintet at the Topper club in Indianapolis. According to the Indianapolis News, he asked the bartender, Robert Cook, for an aspirin. Cook opened a drawer beneath the cash register and placed the .38 that was in the drawer on the register while he fished around for the aspirin box. 

According to Cook's account, Winchester said, "That looks like my old service revolver. Can I see it?" Cook gave the revolver to Winchester, who said he wanted to show Cook how he used it to scare friends. After emptying the gun's five shells, he reportedly said, "Now watch," as he replaced four, spun the cylinder, pointed the gun at his head and fired. He died instantly. 

According to the Pittsburgh Courier, Winchester likely assumed the Smith & Wesson and Colt had the same chamber action. The Colt's chamber rotated counter-clockwise and would come up on an empty chamber. The Smith & Wesson rotated clockwise and didn't. Winchester left behind three young sons. 

It seems everything went downhill for Lem’s family and his legacy after his death. His mother-in-law – after Lem accidentally shot himself – took all of his sheet music and recordings and dumped them in the trash. His wife was forced to find work as a domestic worker. The copyright has expired on Lem’s music and his family doesn’t receive any royalties from the companies, in the U.S. and abroad, putting out his music today. 

(Edited from Wikipedia, JazzWax, Delaware Public Media & Fresh Sounds)