James Taylor to play 5 free concerts for Obama

Chapel Hill native trying to help candidate make a push in North Carolina

Richard Drew / AP file	Grammy winner James Taylor will encourage Barack Obama supporters to get out and vote early.

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updated 10:32 a.m. ET Oct. 16, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - James Taylor will play five free concerts in North Carolina as he tours the state to support Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Taylor has concerts scheduled in Charlotte, Asheville, Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Wilmington beginning Sunday. Taylor, who was raised in Chapel Hill, has at times used his musical celebrity to highlight political candidates in the state.

The Grammy winner will encourage Obama supporters to get out and vote early. One-stop voting begins Thursday in North Carolina.

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Obama has been heavily investing in North Carolina to try and swing a state that hasn’t voted for a Democratic president since 1976. Republican rival John McCain has been increasing his presence to defend the state.

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