courtesy www.carrsbeach.com
It’s hard to imagine today. A segregated stage on the Chesapeake attracting the greatest musical talent of the day – performing for a mostly African American audience.
Such was Carr’s Beach, a music venue that reflected the worst and best of mid-twentieth century America and Annapolis. Performers ranged from Lionel Hampton to Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Popular white musicians also performed there, including Buddy Holly in the 1957 and Frank Zappa in 1973. 
Charles ‘Hoppy’ Adams, a disc jocket at WANN radio, presented the acts – always nattily attired and calm under the pressure of huge audiences. He added the class and civility that became known to many performers from around the nation and around the world.
Of course, Carr’s Beach, along with another segregated African American beach Sparrow’s Beach, were actual bathing beaches. Incorporated Highland Beach, with the summer home of Frederick Douglas and other distinguished African Americans, even to this day, adjoined. Folks would come from as far as Philadelphia to enjoy an afternoon with their families at these locales.
Few remnants of the beach exist today. The site has become the Chesapeake Harbour development, a gated community just outside city limits. But Carr’s Beach lives on in the hearts and musical minds of many Annapolitans. It still reminds us of a time a time when America was a harsher and, perhaps, more artistic place.
For more information see the Carr's Beach website.
the hearts and musical minds of many Annapolitans. It still reminds us of a time a time when America was a harsher and, perhaps, more artistic place.
For more information see the Carr's Beach website.