California Ramblers

The California Ramblers were an American jazz group that recorded hundreds of songs for many different record labels throughout the 1920s. Four members of the band – Red Nichols, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, and Adrian Rollini – went on to front big bands in later decades.

The band was formed in 1921 by banjoist Ray Kitchenman. Its members were from Ohio but chose the name California Ramblers. The band was instantly successful and were one of the most prolific recording groups in the 1920s.

In late 1924 the Ramblers signed a contract with Columbia Records and then, in conjunction with their manager Ed Kirkeby, agreed to waive all royalties to Columbia for the right to record for other companies under pseudonyms. They recorded for nearly every independent label in the U.S., Canada, and the UK, using over 100 unique aliases, Including The Golden Gate Orchestra, Varsity Eight, Stokers of Hades, and The Goofus Washboards.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1920

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1921 - 1938

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

Notes: Known as the Merry Melody Men prior to 1921. Name frequently appears as Golden Gate Orchestra; other pseudonyms include Jerry Mason and his Californians, the Little Ramblers, the University Six, and the Louisiana Collegians.

See Also: Golden Gate Orchestra; California Ramblers; University Six and the California Rambler

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 251-275 of 514 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 148383 10-in. 4/26/1929 Deep night Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148384 10-in. 4/26/1929 I'm croonin' a tune about June Dick Burnett ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148629 10-in. 5/27/1929 Am I a passing fancy (Or am I the one in your dreams)? Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148630 10-in. 5/27/1929 Am I blue? Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148631 10-in. 5/27/1929 Wishing and waiting for love Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W148662 10-in. 6/6/1929 Sleepy Valley Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148663 10-in. 6/6/1929 Painting the clouds with sunshine Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148664 10-in. 6/6/1929 Tip-toe thru' the tulips with me Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148775 10-in. 7/2/1929 Song of the blues Tom Frawley ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148776 10-in. 7/2/1929 Maybe—who knows? Tom Frawley ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148777 10-in. 7/2/1929 I'd do anything for you Tom Frawley ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148778 10-in. 7/2/1929 The flippity flop Tom Frawley ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148858 10-in. 7/26/1929 By the way Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148859 10-in. 7/26/1929 Just you, just me Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148860 10-in. 7/26/1929 One kiss Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148897 10-in. 8/20/1929 Steppin' along Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148898 10-in. 8/20/1929 Too wonderful for words Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148899 10-in. 8/20/1929 Shoo shoo boogie boo Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148900 10-in. 8/20/1929 Do I know what I'm doing (While I'm in love) Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149043 10-in. 9/24/1929 Love ain't nothin' but the blues Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149044 10-in. 9/24/1929 The right kind of man Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149045 10-in. 9/24/1929 Chant of the jungle Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149046 10-in. 9/24/1929 Things we want the most are hard to get Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149129 10-in. 10/11/1929 My sweeter than sweet Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149130 10-in. 10/11/1929 Blondy Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
(Results 251-275 of 514 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed November 7, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 7, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.