David LaMotte

Speaker • Author • Musician

Blog

Two new videos

Jul 15, 2013
Here are a couple of new music videos from a guest spot I did at the White Horse Black Mountain a few months ago. Death Come A-Knockin’, or Travelin’ Shoes, is a traditional slave song from the days of the Underground Railroad. I learned it from Ruthie Foster in Texas years ago, but this is […]

Two new videos

by David LaMotte

Here are a couple of new music videos from a guest spot I did at the White Horse Black Mountain a few months ago. Death Come A-Knockin’, or Travelin’ Shoes, is a traditional slave song from the days of the Underground Railroad. I learned it from Ruthie Foster in Texas years ago, but this is […]

The Klan went home, the community stayed

Apr 1, 2013
In the end, the best defense against bigotry is forging communities that are strong enough to withstand it. Really knowing each other is the starting place for healing all of our wounds. Learning each other's stories and struggles leads to a broader sense of who 'us' is, and there is no victory over 'them' so complete, or so healing, or so effective, as welcoming them into 'us.' That is the radical subversion of fear by love.... Read More →

The Klan went home, the community stayed

by David LaMotte

In the end, the best defense against bigotry is forging communities that are strong enough to withstand it. Really knowing each other is the starting place for healing all of our wounds. Learning each other’s stories and struggles leads to a broader sense of who ‘us’ is, and there is no victory over ‘them’ so complete, or so healing, or so effective, as welcoming them into ‘us.’ That is the radical subversion of fear by love…. Read More →

Klansmen, Crips, Clowns, Memphis and Me

Mar 27, 2013
This Saturday the Ku Klux Klan is promising to have one of its largest rallies ever in Memphis, Tennessee. I’m headed there too. The Memphis park formerly known as Forrest Park, after Civil War general, slave trader and first Grand Wizard of the KKK Nathan Bedford Forrest, now bears the innocuous moniker “Health Sciences Park” […]

Klansmen, Crips, Clowns, Memphis and Me

by David LaMotte

This Saturday the Ku Klux Klan is promising to have one of its largest rallies ever in Memphis, Tennessee. I’m headed there too. The Memphis park formerly known as Forrest Park, after Civil War general, slave trader and first Grand Wizard of the KKK Nathan Bedford Forrest, now bears the innocuous moniker “Health Sciences Park” […]

Nobel Peace Prize nominating season…

Mar 23, 2013
The American Friends Service Committee has opened a call for suggested nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize, and you are invited to submit your suggestions between now and May 1, 2013 for the 2014 prize. ... Read More →

Nobel Peace Prize nominating season…

by David LaMotte

The American Friends Service Committee has opened a call for suggested nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize, and you are invited to submit your suggestions between now and May 1, 2013 for the 2014 prize. … Read More →

The Fifth Annual Freedom Ball

Mar 20, 2013
As Christmas approached last year, my thoughts were very much with my friend Ed Chapman. Ed spent nearly fifteen years in prison, thirteen of those on death row, wrongfully convicted. He was exonerated five years ago. Exoneration doesn’t involve any restitution or declaration of innocence, they just let you go. In Ed’s case, he had […]

The Fifth Annual Freedom Ball

by David LaMotte

As Christmas approached last year, my thoughts were very much with my friend Ed Chapman. Ed spent nearly fifteen years in prison, thirteen of those on death row, wrongfully convicted. He was exonerated five years ago. Exoneration doesn’t involve any restitution or declaration of innocence, they just let you go. In Ed’s case, he had […]

California Dreaming and Changing the World

Mar 8, 2013
The alarm rang at 4AM yesterday, and that’s early for just about everyone. On the West Coast that was 1AM. And just to sweeten the deal, Sunday is the time change for Daylight Savings. Sleep schmeep! Spending my adult life as a professional musician, I’ve probably seen 4AM on the end of my day much […]

California Dreaming and Changing the World

by David LaMotte

The alarm rang at 4AM yesterday, and that’s early for just about everyone. On the West Coast that was 1AM. And just to sweeten the deal, Sunday is the time change for Daylight Savings. Sleep schmeep! Spending my adult life as a professional musician, I’ve probably seen 4AM on the end of my day much […]

The Moon and the Miracle

Feb 21, 2013
The moon and the miracle Santee, SC January 28, 2013 And on other nights (one night before full, or one night after)
, the moon does not make me smile or remember a lover who once held all of my tension and attention I don’t think of children’s rhymes or giddy night rides with the headlights off […]

The Moon and the Miracle

by David LaMotte

The moon and the miracle Santee, SC January 28, 2013 And on other nights (one night before full, or one night after)
, the moon does not make me smile or remember a lover who once held all of my tension and attention I don’t think of children’s rhymes or giddy night rides with the headlights off […]

News from Guatemala

Feb 11, 2013
Antigua, Guatemala  8AM Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 I’m waking up this morning in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (also known as Xela), realizing that it has suddenly been a week since I arrived. The time is going quickly, and it has been a whirlwind. Here are a handful of highlights from the last week: Camino Seguro — After […]

News from Guatemala

by David LaMotte

Antigua, Guatemala  8AM Monday, Feb. 11, 2013 I’m waking up this morning in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala (also known as Xela), realizing that it has suddenly been a week since I arrived. The time is going quickly, and it has been a whirlwind. Here are a handful of highlights from the last week: Camino Seguro — After […]

A new song being born: Angelita

Feb 10, 2013
Antigua, Guatemala  8AM Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 I wrote a song lyric yesterday that captures a bit of what I’m thinking and feeling on this particular trip to Guatemala, which must be about my tenth time here. I’m thinking about how the places we encounter literally become a part of us (and yes, I really […]

A new song being born: Angelita

by David LaMotte

Antigua, Guatemala  8AM Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 I wrote a song lyric yesterday that captures a bit of what I’m thinking and feeling on this particular trip to Guatemala, which must be about my tenth time here. I’m thinking about how the places we encounter literally become a part of us (and yes, I really […]

Worldchanging Weekends

Jan 22, 2013
For over fifteen years David has been offering Worldchanging 101 workshops and keynotes. In them, he challenges some common, but largely unexamined, ideas about how large-scale social change happens and how it does not. We have put together a new flyer for colleges and churches about various ways to organize a weekend event or a […]

Worldchanging Weekends

by David LaMotte

For over fifteen years David has been offering Worldchanging 101 workshops and keynotes. In them, he challenges some common, but largely unexamined, ideas about how large-scale social change happens and how it does not. We have put together a new flyer for colleges and churches about various ways to organize a weekend event or a […]

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.

2013 — Looky!

Jan 1, 2013
January 1, 2013, Chapel Hill, NC Last night Deanna and I celebrated New Year’s Eve at home, talking and laughing and trying to strengthen each other for what will be a challenging new year for us in some ways. We and Mason had not-so-gracefully showed up at a New Year’s party that afternoon—a full day […]

2013 — Looky!

by David LaMotte

January 1, 2013, Chapel Hill, NC Last night Deanna and I celebrated New Year’s Eve at home, talking and laughing and trying to strengthen each other for what will be a challenging new year for us in some ways. We and Mason had not-so-gracefully showed up at a New Year’s party that afternoon—a full day […]

What I Want For Christmas…

Dec 5, 2012
…really comes down to five or ten minutes of your time. And a stamp. And an envelope and a piece of paper. And a decision to spend those minutes in a way that could take a step toward righting a wrong. Ed Chapman is a friend of mine.  I’ve written about him before on my […]

What I Want For Christmas…

by David LaMotte

…really comes down to five or ten minutes of your time. And a stamp. And an envelope and a piece of paper. And a decision to spend those minutes in a way that could take a step toward righting a wrong. Ed Chapman is a friend of mine.  I’ve written about him before on my […]

A Zoo Story…

Dec 4, 2012
On Saturday, I took my son Mason to the zoo in Asheboro. It was a gorgeous day, but there were very few people there. When I stopped into the gift shop to rent a stroller (Mason hurt his foot this week and wasn’t quite up to all the walking), I asked the bored teenager behind […]

A Zoo Story…

by David LaMotte

On Saturday, I took my son Mason to the zoo in Asheboro. It was a gorgeous day, but there were very few people there. When I stopped into the gift shop to rent a stroller (Mason hurt his foot this week and wasn’t quite up to all the walking), I asked the bored teenager behind […]

A few early presents…

Nov 27, 2012
This holiday season I’ve decided to give a few things away. There isn’t any particular reason for this, except that I’m grateful to you who have shown enough interest in me to stay tuned to what I’m thinking/speaking/singing about. I’m grateful, and I thought it would be nice to thank some of you. So every […]

A few early presents…

by David LaMotte

This holiday season I’ve decided to give a few things away. There isn’t any particular reason for this, except that I’m grateful to you who have shown enough interest in me to stay tuned to what I’m thinking/speaking/singing about. I’m grateful, and I thought it would be nice to thank some of you. So every […]

Homecoming show at the Grey Eagle

Nov 18, 2012
  I’ll be playing at a home town venue in Asheville, North Carolina on Thanksgiving weekend, so after spending Friday recovering from Thursday’s culinary adventure, come out on Saturday night and spend the evening with me and my band hearing some old and new songs. I played the very first concert when the Grey Eagle […]

Homecoming show at the Grey Eagle

by David LaMotte

  I’ll be playing at a home town venue in Asheville, North Carolina on Thanksgiving weekend, so after spending Friday recovering from Thursday’s culinary adventure, come out on Saturday night and spend the evening with me and my band hearing some old and new songs. I played the very first concert when the Grey Eagle […]

Very More Awesome

Nov 14, 2012
It has now been three weeks since my Guatemalan friends returned to El Tejar, and I’m just beginning to gain the perspective that a bit of distance provides. Our time together in North Carolina was rich, dense and fulfilling, and I know that I am not the only one who was deeply moved by it. […]

Very More Awesome

by David LaMotte

It has now been three weeks since my Guatemalan friends returned to El Tejar, and I’m just beginning to gain the perspective that a bit of distance provides. Our time together in North Carolina was rich, dense and fulfilling, and I know that I am not the only one who was deeply moved by it. […]

Guatemala visits North Carolina

Oct 4, 2012
In 2004 David LaMotte and his wife Deanna visited Guatemala  for their honeymoon, not looking for a project, other than to study Spanish and explore that beautiful country a bit. They ended up founding a non-profit organization, PEG Partners. Since then, David has collected donations at his concerts for Guatemalan school and library projects in […]

Guatemala visits North Carolina

by David LaMotte

In 2004 David LaMotte and his wife Deanna visited Guatemala  for their honeymoon, not looking for a project, other than to study Spanish and explore that beautiful country a bit. They ended up founding a non-profit organization, PEG Partners. Since then, David has collected donations at his concerts for Guatemalan school and library projects in […]

Old Friends & New Songs

Oct 4, 2012
What happens when three long-time musician friends get together with guitars in hand?  Laughter, stories, new songs, familiar songs, harmonies, and spontaneous musical moments. That’s what you can expect from David LaMotte, Chris Rosser, and Beth Wood when they take the stage at the Casbah in Durham, NC on Thursday, October 11 at 8 pm, […]

Old Friends & New Songs

by David LaMotte

What happens when three long-time musician friends get together with guitars in hand?  Laughter, stories, new songs, familiar songs, harmonies, and spontaneous musical moments. That’s what you can expect from David LaMotte, Chris Rosser, and Beth Wood when they take the stage at the Casbah in Durham, NC on Thursday, October 11 at 8 pm, […]

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.  

Lots of media for White Flour

Jun 5, 2012
White Flour, my new illustrated book, has been receiving some lovely media attention, in television, radio and newspaper formats, not to mention blogs. This is the NBC evening news in Macon Georgia a week ago:   And you can click below to check out a lovely article in the Asheville Citizen-Times… I was also interviewed […]

Lots of media for White Flour

by David LaMotte

White Flour, my new illustrated book, has been receiving some lovely media attention, in television, radio and newspaper formats, not to mention blogs. This is the NBC evening news in Macon Georgia a week ago:   And you can click below to check out a lovely article in the Asheville Citizen-Times… I was also interviewed […]

Chances to spend some time in conversation this summer

Jun 5, 2012
Along with the whirlwind of activity around the release of my new book, White Flour, and some concert appearances, I’m preparing for a collection of conferences this summer, and I hope you can join me at some of them. One is for youth, and the rest for adults, with youth welcome.  I’ll be teaching creative […]

Chances to spend some time in conversation this summer

by David LaMotte

Along with the whirlwind of activity around the release of my new book, White Flour, and some concert appearances, I’m preparing for a collection of conferences this summer, and I hope you can join me at some of them. One is for youth, and the rest for adults, with youth welcome.  I’ll be teaching creative […]

‘White Flour’ interview on Macon, Georgia’s NBC-41

Jun 5, 2012
Here is an appearance on Macon Georgia’s NBC station, Channel 41 on May 29, 2012, talking about White Flour. It’s possible that I should have put some white flour on my head to combat the glare… 😉  

‘White Flour’ interview on Macon, Georgia’s NBC-41

by David LaMotte

Here is an appearance on Macon Georgia’s NBC station, Channel 41 on May 29, 2012, talking about White Flour. It’s possible that I should have put some white flour on my head to combat the glare… 😉  

They’re here!!!

May 17, 2012
The slideshow photo is of Brad, the floor manager at the warehouse, with four of the seven skids of books that arrived today—10,867 copies of White Flour, and about 2500 of S.S. Bathtub, my earlier children’s book, now back in print.  As I was arriving home from Thailand, the books were pulling in on an […]

They’re here!!!

by David LaMotte

The slideshow photo is of Brad, the floor manager at the warehouse, with four of the seven skids of books that arrived today—10,867 copies of White Flour, and about 2500 of S.S. Bathtub, my earlier children’s book, now back in print.  As I was arriving home from Thailand, the books were pulling in on an […]

Bloggers on “White Flour”

Apr 10, 2012
It is amazing to see all the excitement White Flour is generating, still six weeks out from its publication. Here are a few of the exciting things generated by other folks in response to the book. • Flip Lower, from Birmingham, AL, came up with the idea of ‘White Flour Weekend’ for May 26-27, where […]

Bloggers on “White Flour”

by David LaMotte

It is amazing to see all the excitement White Flour is generating, still six weeks out from its publication. Here are a few of the exciting things generated by other folks in response to the book. • Flip Lower, from Birmingham, AL, came up with the idea of ‘White Flour Weekend’ for May 26-27, where […]

‘White Flour’ News

Mar 24, 2012
As of this afternoon, March 24, there is one week to go in the month-long kickstarter campaign to publish my new illustrated book, White Flour, and wait ’til you hear the news!  Here’s the scoop: Thank you! The original goal of $18,500 was met in only twelve days! People have ‘shared’ the project all over […]

‘White Flour’ News

by David LaMotte

As of this afternoon, March 24, there is one week to go in the month-long kickstarter campaign to publish my new illustrated book, White Flour, and wait ’til you hear the news!  Here’s the scoop: Thank you! The original goal of $18,500 was met in only twelve days! People have ‘shared’ the project all over […]

Nobel News

Mar 24, 2012
The AFSC recently announced its nominee for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel committee is also requesting nominees for the 2013 prize. More information on each of these efforts is available here.... Read More →

Nobel News

by David LaMotte

The AFSC recently announced its nominee for the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel committee is also requesting nominees for the 2013 prize. More information on each of these efforts is available here…. Read More →

White Flour book on the way…

Mar 1, 2012
Order the book or support the project here! My new illustrated book will be coming out in late May.  It tells a funny, instructive and true story of a creative anti-racism protest by a group calling itself the Coup Clutz Clowns, in Knoxville, Tennessee.  If all goes well, the book will be released on May […]

White Flour book on the way…

by David LaMotte

Order the book or support the project here! My new illustrated book will be coming out in late May.  It tells a funny, instructive and true story of a creative anti-racism protest by a group calling itself the Coup Clutz Clowns, in Knoxville, Tennessee.  If all goes well, the book will be released on May […]

What you did in Guatemala in 2011

Feb 5, 2012
This is the year-end letter to PEG donors telling them where their money went. I thought I'd share it with the rest of you, too. At the end of the year, it's powerful to look back and see what has happened.... Read More →

What you did in Guatemala in 2011

by David LaMotte

This is the year-end letter to PEG donors telling them where their money went. I thought I’d share it with the rest of you, too. At the end of the year, it’s powerful to look back and see what has happened…. Read More →

Teleprompters, Translation and a Tie

Jan 27, 2012
…I couldn’t help but be aware of how much my life has changed in the last few years. Last week I flew to San Diego to speak at a Rotary International Assembly. It was a bit heady for me. Not only my first time with a teleprompter and six-language simultaneous translation, but I was an […]

Teleprompters, Translation and a Tie

by David LaMotte

…I couldn’t help but be aware of how much my life has changed in the last few years. Last week I flew to San Diego to speak at a Rotary International Assembly. It was a bit heady for me. Not only my first time with a teleprompter and six-language simultaneous translation, but I was an […]

Welcome Rachel!

Jan 5, 2012
I’m thrilled to announce that Rachel Wilson has begun working as my new booking and logistics manager.  I met Rachel last year in Raleigh and was immediately impressed by her.  I’m so grateful that she has elected to work with me and keep things organized around here (you know how artists can be…). To reach […]

Welcome Rachel!

by David LaMotte

I’m thrilled to announce that Rachel Wilson has begun working as my new booking and logistics manager.  I met Rachel last year in Raleigh and was immediately impressed by her.  I’m so grateful that she has elected to work with me and keep things organized around here (you know how artists can be…). To reach […]

Looking Back, Looking Forward

Jan 5, 2012
As many of us do this time of year, I looked back over 2011 recently, and I was amazed to see all that had happened. Some of it has been hard and some has been thrilling, but I definitely feel alive. I was theoretically taking it easier this year in order to work at the […]

Looking Back, Looking Forward

by David LaMotte

As many of us do this time of year, I looked back over 2011 recently, and I was amazed to see all that had happened. Some of it has been hard and some has been thrilling, but I definitely feel alive. I was theoretically taking it easier this year in order to work at the […]

Update from Guatemala

Oct 22, 2011
I have been in or on a pretty amazing array of motorized vehicles in the last 24 hours, from public buses (a.k.a. ‘chicken buses,’ retired school buses from the US, often painted up in classic Latin style, but sometimes with the names of American counties still painted on the side) to a taxi with half […]

Update from Guatemala

by David LaMotte

I have been in or on a pretty amazing array of motorized vehicles in the last 24 hours, from public buses (a.k.a. ‘chicken buses,’ retired school buses from the US, often painted up in classic Latin style, but sometimes with the names of American counties still painted on the side) to a taxi with half […]

“I’ve Never Liked Politics”

Sep 14, 2011
I found this poem searching through a file in my computer called "Works In Progress." I had forgotten about it entirely, but thought it might be worth sharing...... Read More →

“I’ve Never Liked Politics”

by David LaMotte

I found this poem searching through a file in my computer called “Works In Progress.” I had forgotten about it entirely, but thought it might be worth sharing…… Read More →

Harmony for Humanity Interview

Sep 8, 2011
This is a recent interview and article published by Harmony for Humanity, please click the link below to read the rest of it. David LaMotte: Making a Difference From the Heart David LaMotte is being the change in so many ways that it’s almost impossible to keep up. LaMotte is an award-winning songwriter and peace […]

Harmony for Humanity Interview

by David LaMotte

This is a recent interview and article published by Harmony for Humanity, please click the link below to read the rest of it. David LaMotte: Making a Difference From the Heart David LaMotte is being the change in so many ways that it’s almost impossible to keep up. LaMotte is an award-winning songwriter and peace […]