“For eighteen years David LaMotte didn’t have a ‘real job’ or a real haircut,” begins the musician’s bio. Instead of climbing a corporate ladder or working on his coif, LaMotte regaled local music fans with his earnest brand of folk. LaMotte’s legacy dates back to the days of McDibbs and Be Here Now — and if neither of those names ring a bell you can read up on that WNC history here.
Along with a prolific songwriting career, LaMotte also focused on humanitarian efforts, raising funds through his concerts to help schools and libraries in Guatemala and founding non-profit PEG Partners.
According to the musician’s Web site, “He was named a 2008 Rotary World Peace Fellow by Rotary International, one of only sixty worldwide. Because of that he suspended his musical career at its peak, and relocated to Brisbane, Australia to pursue a Masters of International Relations, Peace and Conflict Resolution. As part of that pursuit he spent three months in southern India studying and working with a Gandhian organization pursuing integrated rural development in the impoverished region of Andhra on the Bay of Bengal.”
LaMotte returns to North Carolina to work with the North Carolina Council of Churches in Raleigh as their Program Associate for Peace. “This part-time role will give him a chance to pursue peace work while also allowing him to return to the stage for occasional performances, workshops and conferences. In addition, he will be completing work on the two books he is writing as well as spending time with his toddler son, Mason,” says a press release.
One of those shows is a special homecoming concert at The White Horse on Saturday, July 17. 8 p.m., $15.
Okay, so now about that hair. This is the deal: “After 20+ years of long hair David LaMotte decided to shave it all off and donate his hair to Locks of Love. There was also an online bid to buy the exclusive rights of ‘buying David’s hair’ with the money going to PEG- the NPO organisation he formed to improve conditions at schools in Guatemala. This is just the time-lapse video- there will be a more detailed video coming soon with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.”
Here’s a before picture of LaMotte’s legendary mane:
And here’s the fast-motion head-shaving video:
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