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 101-125 of 514 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbia | W140603 | 10-in. | 5/14/1925 | Sweet Georgia Brown | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W140673 | 10-in. | 7/9/1925 | Sonya (Yup, alay yup!) | California Ramblers ; Billy Jones | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Columbia | W140674 | 10-in. | 7/9/1925 | I'm gonna Charleston back to Charleston | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W140879 | 10-in. | 8/28/1925 | Moon deer | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W140880 | 10-in. | 8/28/1925 | I'm in love with you | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140961 | 10-in. | 9/18/1925 | Desdemona | University Six | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140962 | 10-in. | 9/18/1925 | The camel walk | University Six | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 140963 | 10-in. | 9/18/1925 | She was just a sailor's sweetheart | Arthur Hall ; University Six | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Columbia | 141304 | 10-in. | 11/24/1925 | Fallin' down | University Six | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 141305 | 10-in. | 11/24/1925 | Smile a little bit | University Six | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 141306 | 10-in. | 11/24/1925 | Then I'll be happy | University Six | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 141339 | 10-in. | 12/1/1925 | In your green hat | University Six | Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble | Musical group | |
Columbia | 141340 | 10-in. | 12/1/1925 | Dustin' the donkey | University Six | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 141341 | 10-in. | 12/1/1925 | I love my baby | University Six | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W141350 | 10-in. | 12/4/1925 | Then I'll be happy | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W141351 | 10-in. | 12/4/1925 | Smile a little bit | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W141352 | 10-in. | 12/4/1925 | Dreaming of a castle in the air | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W141355 | 10-in. | 12/5/1925 | Show me the way to go home | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble | Musical group | |
Columbia | W141821 | 10-in. | 3/18/1926 | I'd climb the highest mountain if I knew I'd find you | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W141822 | 10-in. | 3/18/1926 | Under the ukulele tree | California Ramblers | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | 141838 | 10-in. | 3/23/1926 | Georgianna | Arthur Fields ; University Six | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Columbia | 141839 | 10-in. | 3/23/1926 | What a man | Arthur Fields ; University Six | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Columbia | 141840 | 10-in. | 3/23/1926 | Sittin' around | University Six | Jazz/dance band | Musical group | |
Columbia | W141994 | 10-in. | 4/21/1926 | Give me today | California Ramblers ; Arthur Hall | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Columbia | W141995 | 10-in. | 4/21/1926 | No foolin' | California Ramblers ; Arthur Hall | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.
California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.
"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 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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