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 76-100 of 514 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia | 81699 | 10-in. | 4/18/1924 | Shine | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 81700 | 10-in. | 4/18/1924 | It had to be you | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 81800 | 10-in. | 6/3/1924 | You know me, Alabam' | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 81801 | 10-in. | 6/3/1924 | Where the dreamy Wabash flows | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 81852 | 10-in. | 6/30/1924 | Please | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 81853 | 10-in. | 6/30/1924 | Charleston cabin | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 81856 | 10-in. | 6/30/1924 | Big boy! | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 81877 | 10-in. | 7/18/1924 | Charley, my boy | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 81898 | 10-in. | 8/7/1924 | I want to be happy | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 81899 | 10-in. | 8/7/1924 | Susquehanna home | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140074 | 10-in. | 9/23/1924 | Back where the daffodils grow | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140075 | 10-in. | 9/23/1924 | When I was the dandy and you were the belle | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140077 | 10-in. | 10/2/1924 | Eliza | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140078 | 10-in. | 10/2/1924 | I want to see my Tennessee | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140115 | 10-in. | 10/23/1924 | Copenhagen | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140116 | 10-in. | 10/23/1924 | Gotta getta girl | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140177 | 10-in. | 12/13/1924 | Oh Mabel! | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140178 | 10-in. | 12/20/1924 | Me and the boy friend | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140220 | 10-in. | 1/5/1925 | Where's my sweetie hiding? | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140221 | 10-in. | 1/5/1925 | Why couldn't it be poor little me? | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140368 | 10-in. | 1/28/1925 | Oh, lady be good! | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140369 | 10-in. | 1/28/1925 | Swanee butterfly | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W140457 | 10-in. | 3/23/1925 | Just a little drink | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W140458 | 10-in. | 3/23/1925 | Dromedary | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W140602 | 10-in. | 5/14/1925 | Ev'rything is hotsy totsy now | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.
California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.
"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: California Ramblers
Discogs: California Ramblers
Allmusic: California Ramblers
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: California Ramblers - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97061457
Wikidata: California Ramblers - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1310206
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/134477656
MusicBrainz: California Ramblers - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ac2ae864-33c3-4dd8-872d-6c516cfc9db2
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