Singer/songwriter James Taylor [ tickets ] has announced plans to drum up support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama during a run of shows set to take place in North Carolina this month.

Taylor plans to hit the stage Sunday (10/19) in Charlotte and Asheville; Monday (10/20) in Chapel Hill; and Tuesday (10/21) in Raleigh and Wilmington. The performances are aimed to encourage North Carolina Obama supporters to take advantage of early voting, which began today (10/16) in that state.

A Massachusetts native, Taylor grew up in Chapel Hill while his father was dean of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.