Jesse hails from the railroad town of De Soto, MO, the economic powerhouse of southern Jefferson County. His mother was a folk singer who had a devoted local following, and she performed regularly at the Irwin's restaurant, The De Soto Depot. Jesse grew up playing the piano, first classically and later in a jazz ensemble and trio. After graduating from De Soto High School, he gave up music entirely to focus on his college work and for the next four years he attended Jefferson College, UMKC and finally Webster University. During his senior year at Webster Jesse learned to play the guitar (sort of) and had his first performance at Gully Unplugged, Webster's semi - annual student - run music festival. After graduation, Jesse began working as a customs broker, hating his life, binge drinking and pulling wild stunts while singing karaoke at Blueberry Hill's Elvis Room. He never got very good at his job and was eventually fired. Determined to spend the rest of his 20s doing whatever he wanted, Jesse decided to start writing songs and began performing at the famous Thursday night open mic at Frederick's Music Lounge. In this wonderful atmosphere Jesse grew as a performer and met some of the most talented people in the St. Louis music scene. At the urging of Bob Reuter and Fred Friction, Jesse recorded his first album, Hair of the Dog, in 2005. He is now focusing on writing more material and playing shows around town. He is slowly recording a second album and is one of the hosts of the Chippewa Chapel Traveling Guitar Circle and Medicine Show, a continuation of Frederick’s open mic that went on the road after the club closed in 2006. Jesse’s newest project is the Dock Ellis Band, a pre-1985 county cover cigarette-smoking whiskey-drinking freakout.

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