David LaMotte

Speaker • Author • Musician

David LaMotte

A six-minute concert

Jan 31, 2025
Megan, who handles my publicity these days, was recently asked if she had a sampler video with clips of different songs that might give a sense of what my music is like, and how a concert might feel. We chopped this together, and I thought some other folks might like to see it, too. So […]

A six-minute concert

by David LaMotte

Megan, who handles my publicity these days, was recently asked if she had a sampler video with clips of different songs that might give a sense of what my music is like, and how a concert might feel. We chopped this together, and I thought some other folks might like to see it, too. So […]

Rapid River: David LaMotte celebrates 25 years with ‘The Other Way Around’

Aug 17, 2016
Rapid River Magazine published this article about David’s new album and the release concert that will launch it: Internationally known Black Mountain songwriter David LaMotte celebrates 25 years as a professional musician with the release of a new album, The Other Way Around. LaMotte and a large backing band will mark the occasion with a Release […]

Rapid River: David LaMotte celebrates 25 years with ‘The Other Way Around’

by David LaMotte

Rapid River Magazine published this article about David’s new album and the release concert that will launch it: Internationally known Black Mountain songwriter David LaMotte celebrates 25 years as a professional musician with the release of a new album, The Other Way Around. LaMotte and a large backing band will mark the occasion with a Release […]

Music and silence

Aug 9, 2016
Among the most powerful experiences I have had at live concerts is one of silence rather than music. Occasionally, a song, usually in a minor key, arrives with such power, conviction, and depth that when it ends, no one is willing to break the silence. The last notes linger until they fade, and a long […]

Music and silence

by David LaMotte

Among the most powerful experiences I have had at live concerts is one of silence rather than music. Occasionally, a song, usually in a minor key, arrives with such power, conviction, and depth that when it ends, no one is willing to break the silence. The last notes linger until they fade, and a long […]

Box Sets back in stock

May 14, 2015
After a bit of time revising and updating the content on the USB box sets, we are happy to report that they are back in stock. These digital box sets contain… well, pretty much everything I’ve ever done.  High quality MP3 versions of all eleven CDs (including liner notes, and my very first recording, Barefoot, […]

Box Sets back in stock

by David LaMotte

After a bit of time revising and updating the content on the USB box sets, we are happy to report that they are back in stock. These digital box sets contain… well, pretty much everything I’ve ever done.  High quality MP3 versions of all eleven CDs (including liner notes, and my very first recording, Barefoot, […]

The Three Davids Ride Again!

May 14, 2015
We had so much fun at our sold-out show in Asheville in February that we were all eager to book another one — but where to play next? Clearly, what we needed was a concert promoter named David. Happily, concert promoter David Sardinha is the curator of a wonderful concert series in Cary, North Carolina, an […]

The Three Davids Ride Again!

by David LaMotte

We had so much fun at our sold-out show in Asheville in February that we were all eager to book another one — but where to play next? Clearly, what we needed was a concert promoter named David. Happily, concert promoter David Sardinha is the curator of a wonderful concert series in Cary, North Carolina, an […]

They’re here! They’re here! They’re here!

Nov 6, 2013
UPS brought the new ‘Best Of David LaMotte’ CDs to the door last night after dark (it was a long, impatient wait!), and today we will be mailing them out. We’re really excited about the new record around here.  It contains fourteen songs, including new versions of some older songs with talented guest musicians joining […]

They’re here! They’re here! They’re here!

by David LaMotte

UPS brought the new ‘Best Of David LaMotte’ CDs to the door last night after dark (it was a long, impatient wait!), and today we will be mailing them out. We’re really excited about the new record around here.  It contains fourteen songs, including new versions of some older songs with talented guest musicians joining […]

Worldchanging in your town…

Oct 7, 2013
It’s been a whirlwind of a day with a few meetings related to releasing my new ‘Best Of’ CD, some writing for an online community, two connections with longtime friends, meetings with the folks at Kudzu, the design company I’m working with these days, to finalize this cool flier right here—–> …and a talk at […]

Worldchanging in your town…

by David LaMotte

It’s been a whirlwind of a day with a few meetings related to releasing my new ‘Best Of’ CD, some writing for an online community, two connections with longtime friends, meetings with the folks at Kudzu, the design company I’m working with these days, to finalize this cool flier right here—–> …and a talk at […]

Interview on peacemaking and activism

Jan 3, 2013
David Dault recently interviewed me for his podcast ‘Things Not Seen.’  It was a delightful conversation, and the edited version is here. I hope you will enjoy it. To listen, simply click here.

Interview on peacemaking and activism

by David LaMotte

David Dault recently interviewed me for his podcast ‘Things Not Seen.’  It was a delightful conversation, and the edited version is here. I hope you will enjoy it. To listen, simply click here.

White Flour is now a video!

Sep 21, 2012
Here’s a way to hear and see this story, that doesn’t require buying the book. Please feel free to share it in any context you like, virtual or actual.  

White Flour is now a video!

by David LaMotte

Here’s a way to hear and see this story, that doesn’t require buying the book. Please feel free to share it in any context you like, virtual or actual.  

A Bend in the Path

Jun 17, 2011
As I write, the window is open, letting the sticky summer air of Carolina drift in, disturbed by a ceiling fan stirring it around to keep me comfortable.  Sounds fall in that window as well — birds chirping and the low swell of the occasional car passing by. I took Mason to the diner across […]

A Bend in the Path

by David LaMotte

As I write, the window is open, letting the sticky summer air of Carolina drift in, disturbed by a ceiling fan stirring it around to keep me comfortable.  Sounds fall in that window as well — birds chirping and the low swell of the occasional car passing by. I took Mason to the diner across […]

More pictures and news from Guatemala

Feb 1, 2011
More photos and stories from Guatemala, where I will be for the next few days, visiting schools and libraries which are supported by PEG Partners, the non-profit Deanna and I founded in 2004.... Read More →

More pictures and news from Guatemala

by David LaMotte

More photos and stories from Guatemala, where I will be for the next few days, visiting schools and libraries which are supported by PEG Partners, the non-profit Deanna and I founded in 2004…. Read More →

UQ graduate helps nominate Nobel Peace Prize candidates

Dec 21, 2010
This from the University of Queensland News: Recent UQ graduate and former Rotary World Peace Fellow David LaMotte has been appointed to a prestigious committee that selects Nobel Peace Prize nominees. Mr LaMotte graduated from UQ in June 2010 with a Master of International Studies (Peace and Conflict Resolution) and returned to the United States […]

UQ graduate helps nominate Nobel Peace Prize candidates

by David LaMotte

This from the University of Queensland News: Recent UQ graduate and former Rotary World Peace Fellow David LaMotte has been appointed to a prestigious committee that selects Nobel Peace Prize nominees. Mr LaMotte graduated from UQ in June 2010 with a Master of International Studies (Peace and Conflict Resolution) and returned to the United States […]

David LaMotte Visits O’Neal

Dec 20, 2010
The Pilot, Southern Pines, NC David LaMotte, folk artist and humanitarian, visited O’Neal on Thursday, Dec. 2. He spoke to the Upper School students in the afternoon about his life experience from being a professional folk singer to founding a nonprofit in Guatemala and furthering his humanitarian efforts as a recipient of the Rotary World […]

David LaMotte Visits O’Neal

by David LaMotte

The Pilot, Southern Pines, NC David LaMotte, folk artist and humanitarian, visited O’Neal on Thursday, Dec. 2. He spoke to the Upper School students in the afternoon about his life experience from being a professional folk singer to founding a nonprofit in Guatemala and furthering his humanitarian efforts as a recipient of the Rotary World […]

International Burn a Koran Day – cancel/clear

Sep 9, 2010
At the time of this writing, Thursday afternoon, the minister in Florida who had planned to burn Korans two days from now has called off the event, or “stunt,” as President Obama rightly referred to it. That’s good news.... Read More →

International Burn a Koran Day – cancel/clear

by David LaMotte

At the time of this writing, Thursday afternoon, the minister in Florida who had planned to burn Korans two days from now has called off the event, or “stunt,” as President Obama rightly referred to it. That’s good news…. Read More →

Where To From Here

Apr 25, 2010
“What is it you plan to do with your one wild precious life?” – Mary Oliver 17 April, 2010 train from Brisbane, QLD to Grafton, NSW As I write this I am riding through the Australian countryside on a train, headed to a conference where I’ll be speaking about the Rotary World Peace Fellowship and […]

Where To From Here

by David LaMotte

“What is it you plan to do with your one wild precious life?” – Mary Oliver 17 April, 2010 train from Brisbane, QLD to Grafton, NSW As I write this I am riding through the Australian countryside on a train, headed to a conference where I’ll be speaking about the Rotary World Peace Fellowship and […]

Hair Changing 101

Nov 23, 2009
It’s been some time since I’ve checked in, and much has happened in the meantime.  I’ve finished the second semester of my Masters program, Mason turned one, I’ve made trips to Newcastle and Canberra for Rotary, friends have visited from the U.S. and New Zealand, and yesterday Deanna had her thirty-fifth birthday, just to name […]

Hair Changing 101

by David LaMotte

It’s been some time since I’ve checked in, and much has happened in the meantime.  I’ve finished the second semester of my Masters program, Mason turned one, I’ve made trips to Newcastle and Canberra for Rotary, friends have visited from the U.S. and New Zealand, and yesterday Deanna had her thirty-fifth birthday, just to name […]

Eunice Shriver

Aug 11, 2009
Eunice Kennedy Shriver died yesterday. To call the Kennedy family influential is kind of like calling Coca-Cola a pretty big company, and Ms. Shriver was born into that. She didn’t have choices in whether she had that power or not, she simply did. What she was free to choose was where to point that power, […]

Eunice Shriver

by David LaMotte

Eunice Kennedy Shriver died yesterday. To call the Kennedy family influential is kind of like calling Coca-Cola a pretty big company, and Ms. Shriver was born into that. She didn’t have choices in whether she had that power or not, she simply did. What she was free to choose was where to point that power, […]

Police Covers

Jun 25, 2009
On my most recent record, Change, I covered a song by the Police, Walking In Your Footsteps. I was just alerted to a cover song blog that featured that track in a collection of Police covers, and another that features Police and Sting covers by folk artists specifically (that site didn’t feature my track, but […]

Police Covers

by David LaMotte

On my most recent record, Change, I covered a song by the Police, Walking In Your Footsteps. I was just alerted to a cover song blog that featured that track in a collection of Police covers, and another that features Police and Sting covers by folk artists specifically (that site didn’t feature my track, but […]

Words and Music

Nov 28, 2008
A couple of things have popped up from unexpected sources that I thought folks might like to be aware of. The ‘words’ part has to do with a couple of articles; one is in the Mountain Xpress, Asheville’s indie newspaper. It’s written by Jason Bugg, who called to interview me a couple of weeks ago. […]

Words and Music

by David LaMotte

A couple of things have popped up from unexpected sources that I thought folks might like to be aware of. The ‘words’ part has to do with a couple of articles; one is in the Mountain Xpress, Asheville’s indie newspaper. It’s written by Jason Bugg, who called to interview me a couple of weeks ago. […]

Guate trip I

Oct 20, 2008
Da Guate It’s always good to be here, and renewing, even at a time like this when my heart is pulled strongly toward the US. With my dad in the hospital and my baby boy getting ready to make his grand appearance, there’s a lot to feel and think about these days. Hugs and songs […]

Guate trip I

by David LaMotte

Da Guate It’s always good to be here, and renewing, even at a time like this when my heart is pulled strongly toward the US. With my dad in the hospital and my baby boy getting ready to make his grand appearance, there’s a lot to feel and think about these days. Hugs and songs […]

Spun

Sep 17, 2008
My long-time friend Kenny Legendre in Germany has been working for months on a CD of other folks doing my songs. It’s called “Spun,” in reference to my CD “Spin,” and has now been released in Europe. Most of the musicians are German and the songs include a German translation of my song Hard Earned […]

Spun

by David LaMotte

My long-time friend Kenny Legendre in Germany has been working for months on a CD of other folks doing my songs. It’s called “Spun,” in reference to my CD “Spin,” and has now been released in Europe. Most of the musicians are German and the songs include a German translation of my song Hard Earned […]

Traffic

Apr 28, 2008
Two really funny vehicular scenes from my last twenty-four hours:  One: Yesterday a Harley-Davidson pulled by my house and I glanced over at the biker riding a machine with all the auditory subtlety of a jack hammer on a freight train, only to do a double-take: he was talking on a cell phone.  Can you […]

Traffic

by David LaMotte

Two really funny vehicular scenes from my last twenty-four hours:  One: Yesterday a Harley-Davidson pulled by my house and I glanced over at the biker riding a machine with all the auditory subtlety of a jack hammer on a freight train, only to do a double-take: he was talking on a cell phone.  Can you […]

Push Polled in NC by the Clinton Campaign

Apr 24, 2008
This is a letter I wrote yesterday to the New Director of POTUS 08, the XM radio station that covers the presidential campaign exclusively… Scott Walterman Senior Director of News Programming XM Satellite Radio Hi Scott, David LaMotte here.  We’ve corresponded once before about some POTUS08 programming, and I sincerely appreciated your friendly response. I’m […]

Push Polled in NC by the Clinton Campaign

by David LaMotte

This is a letter I wrote yesterday to the New Director of POTUS 08, the XM radio station that covers the presidential campaign exclusively… Scott Walterman Senior Director of News Programming XM Satellite Radio Hi Scott, David LaMotte here.  We’ve corresponded once before about some POTUS08 programming, and I sincerely appreciated your friendly response. I’m […]

Cool Cover of an old song of mine

Apr 20, 2008
Chapel Hill It’s always an honor when someone covers your song, of course, but there’s something especially cool about having it covered by a Turkish guy in Germany.  [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQE3hVsWv9g&hl=en] He may have missed a bit of the English, but I really like his take on the guitar part — maybe a little more than mine. […]

Cool Cover of an old song of mine

by David LaMotte

Chapel Hill It’s always an honor when someone covers your song, of course, but there’s something especially cool about having it covered by a Turkish guy in Germany.  [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQE3hVsWv9g&hl=en] He may have missed a bit of the English, but I really like his take on the guitar part — maybe a little more than mine. […]

This American Life

Apr 9, 2008
St. Petersburg, Florida Wow!  So this is cool… MJ got an email today from This American Life and they want to license my song Ten and a Half for use on their TV show on Showtime. This American Life is some of the smartest and most fascinating stuff being broadcast these days, and I’m just […]

This American Life

by David LaMotte

St. Petersburg, Florida Wow!  So this is cool… MJ got an email today from This American Life and they want to license my song Ten and a Half for use on their TV show on Showtime. This American Life is some of the smartest and most fascinating stuff being broadcast these days, and I’m just […]

White Flour

Apr 7, 2008
Memphis, Tennessee People keep asking at shows where they can get a copy of my poem, White Flour. Christine Kane did me the honor of printing it on her excellent blog a while back, but I guess it’s time I added it to my own. By the way, I just got word that it will be […]

White Flour

by David LaMotte

Memphis, Tennessee People keep asking at shows where they can get a copy of my poem, White Flour. Christine Kane did me the honor of printing it on her excellent blog a while back, but I guess it’s time I added it to my own. By the way, I just got word that it will be […]

Cherry Blossoms

Mar 30, 2008
  Washington, DC Current Earworm (song stuck in my head): Ellis Paul, “Washington, DC, 5/91” Given all the traveling I do, you’d think I’d be a more skilled tourist.  Like, for instance, if I were going to go to a major city for a few days with my wife for a little vacation, I might […]

Cherry Blossoms

by David LaMotte

  Washington, DC Current Earworm (song stuck in my head): Ellis Paul, “Washington, DC, 5/91” Given all the traveling I do, you’d think I’d be a more skilled tourist.  Like, for instance, if I were going to go to a major city for a few days with my wife for a little vacation, I might […]

National Folk Festival

Mar 25, 2008
I’m headed home after the Australian tour, flying from Sydney to Los Angeles. For the last few days I’ve been performing at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia’scapital city (nope, it’s not Sydney). I played this festival six years ago and made some good friends, and many of them were there again, so on top of all the great music and general festival fun, I got to spend some good relaxed time with some good relaxed people.... Read More →

National Folk Festival

by David LaMotte

I’m headed home after the Australian tour, flying from Sydney to Los Angeles. For the last few days I’ve been performing at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, Australia’scapital city (nope, it’s not Sydney). I played this festival six years ago and made some good friends, and many of them were there again, so on top of all the great music and general festival fun, I got to spend some good relaxed time with some good relaxed people…. Read More →