Joe Carta was originally from the Silver Spring / Wheaton area outside of D.C. He began playing guitar in the ‘50s and had the distinction of playing in bands that featured guitar legends Roy Buchanan and Danny Gatton.
As a member of the Dave Marshall Band in the early 1950s he appeared on a weekly radio show broadcast from Walter Reed Hospital. The group played country music at many hospitals and military installations. As a solo Carta appeared on “Josh’s Jamboree” on radio station WDON, Wheaton, with his segment called the Joe Carta Show. The live broadcasts featured many guests including notables John Duffy and Mike Auldridge who went on to fame as members of the Seldom Scene. Joe’s group also worked as a house band at the Rocket Room in D.C. where they were joined by Roy Buchanan.
Carta’s first rock and roll band was called the 5 Beats. In the ‘60s his bands were called the Supremes and later the Playboys. Both had to change their name due to the nationally known groups of the same names.
Joe moved to Howard County in the mid-’60s. His groups still played mostly in the D.C. / Northern VA areas and also locally.
In 1976 he formed the Joe Carta Band. The group was a favorite at the Columbia Holiday Inn with their variety of country, bluegrass, rock, and oldies. They performed annually at the Howard County Fair (‘70s-90s). In 1978 they released an E.P. titled “Carta” featuring the songs “Loose Talk”, “The Wild Side of Life,” “Honestly and Truly,” “Pretty Woman.” Songs from the E.P. were featured on radio stations WLMD, WHFS, WTTR. An early ‘80s group lineup included Carta (guitar), Fred Flaherty (guitar), Joe Rosenfield (bass), Rick Rightmyer (steel guitar), and Jerry McGuire (drums).
The Joe Carta Band continued to play into the ‘00s although membership has changed over the years. They have performed at Camden Yards and Ravens Stadiums. In 2001 they released a double CD “First to Have a Second Chance” (Patuxent 074). Carta also fronted bands that feature other styles of music including a group called the Cruisers (oldies), and the Blue Grass Kats. These groups performed at mostly private affairs, carnivals, festivals, as well as various Columbia village centers during their summer concert series.
