Clubs
One of the most popular clubs servingCharlotte’s black community during the era of racial segregation was the Excelsior Club. Located off of Beatties Ford Road, the Excelsior Club is the oldest social black club in Charlotte. In 1944 Jimmie Mc Kee the original owner of the Excelsior Club transformed a house in the middle class neighborhood of Washington Heights into a club. For decades, this musical venue served as popular gathering spot for local politicians, black social elites and local musicians. Famous national black artist such as Nat King Cole, James Brown and local native Wilbert Harrison performed at the Excelsior Club. Still in operation, the Excelsior Club serves as a rich symbol of cultural pride within the black community and currently is owned by a famous local civil rights attorney James Ferguson.
Also document within this exhibit is the Hi Fi Supper Club, commonly referred to by locals as the “Hi Fi” The Hi Fi was located off of Estelle Street on Beatties Ford Road. There is almost no documentation in local newspapers or photographs about the Hi Fi. Featured in this section is a picture of a local band taken from the Black American Series Charlotte, NC which is one of the rarest photographs you will find of the Hi Fi.