The 2019 Piedmont Laureate, David Menconi  is a journalist and author in Raleigh, North Carolina. He spent 34 years writing for daily newspapers, 28 of those years at the Raleigh News & Observer. Before that, he spent five years at the Boulder (CO) Daily Camera.

His degrees include a masters in journalism from the University of Texas, an undergraduate English degree from Southwestern University and a valid high-school diploma.

In addition to writing for numerous publications, David is editor of the American Music: New Roots book series at University of North Carolina Press. He has published five books himself, most recently 2023’s award-winning Oh, Didn’t They Ramble: Rounder Records and the Transformation of American Roots Music. His previous book Step It Up and Go: the Story of North Carolina Popular Music, from Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk won the 2021 North Caroliniana Society Book Award.