David LaMotte
Encyclopedia
David LaMotte, born on April 25, 1968 in Norfolk, Virginia
, is a singer-songwriter
based in Chapel Hill
, North Carolina
. His work includes original folk music
, children's music
, lectures and peacemaking
. He also directs a non-profit corporation he created to aid Guatemala
n schools, PEG (Proyecto para las Escuelas Guatemaltecas), as well as serving as a consultant on peace issues for the North Carolina Council of Churches and serving on the AFSC Nobel Peace Prize
Nomination Committee.
LaMotte is a Rotary World Peace Fellow, and holds a Masters Degree in International Relations, Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of Queensland
in Brisbane, Australia. As part of that degree, he spent three months in rural Andhra Pradesh, India working with a Gandhian non-governmental organization, Arthik Samata Mandal. In 2007 he was named a "Hero of Humanity" in Heifer International
's magazine World Ark. He was also named a Madison World Changer by his alma mater, James Madison University
.
In May 2011, he was among seven activists arrested at the North Carolina General Assembly
, protesting actions by the NC legislature that they believed to be immoral, including a proposed repeal of the NC Racial Justice Act, proposed new restrictive voting laws and deep cuts to public education.
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, is a singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
based in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill may refer to:*Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a town in the United States, or**the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a major university within the town*Chapel Hill, Alabama...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. His work includes original folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, children's music
Children's music
Children's music is used here to refer to music composed and performed for children by adults. In European influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has historically held both entertainment...
, lectures and peacemaking
Peacemaking
Peacemaking is a form of conflict resolution which focuses on establishing equal power relationships that will be robust enough to forestall future conflict, and establishing some means of agreeing on ethical decisions within a community that has previously had conflict. In order to do so there...
. He also directs a non-profit corporation he created to aid Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
n schools, PEG (Proyecto para las Escuelas Guatemaltecas), as well as serving as a consultant on peace issues for the North Carolina Council of Churches and serving on the AFSC Nobel Peace Prize
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
Nomination Committee.
LaMotte is a Rotary World Peace Fellow, and holds a Masters Degree in International Relations, Peace and Conflict Resolution from the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
in Brisbane, Australia. As part of that degree, he spent three months in rural Andhra Pradesh, India working with a Gandhian non-governmental organization, Arthik Samata Mandal. In 2007 he was named a "Hero of Humanity" in Heifer International
Heifer International
Heifer International is a global nonprofit with the goal of ending poverty and hunger in a sustainable fashion. Established in 1944, Heifer International gives out gifts of livestock, seeds and trees and extensive training to those in need...
's magazine World Ark. He was also named a Madison World Changer by his alma mater, James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
.
In May 2011, he was among seven activists arrested at the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
, protesting actions by the NC legislature that they believed to be immoral, including a proposed repeal of the NC Racial Justice Act, proposed new restrictive voting laws and deep cuts to public education.
Discography
- Barefoot, 1991
- In the Light, 1992
- Flying: Live from the Grey Eagle, 1994
- Hard Earned Smile, 1997
- S.S. Bathtub: Songs for Kids and their Grownups, 1998
- Corners, 2000
- Good Tar: Double Live, 2001
- Spin, 2003
- S.S. Bathtub (book) 2005
- This Is My Song, 2006
- Change, 2006