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 1-25 of 512 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BS-92971 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | Rhythm and romance | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-92972 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | Without a word of warning | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-92973 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | From the top of your head (To the tip of your toes) | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-92974 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | The simple things in life | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-92975 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | Just we two (In our little canoe) | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-92976 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | When Gimble hits the cymbal | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-92977 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | It's my night to howl | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-92978 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | What a night, what a moon, what a girl | The Little Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-92979 | 10-in. | 8/14/1935 | The white star of Sigma Nu | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-95527 | 10-in. | 10/19/1935 | You let me down | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-95528 | 10-in. | 10/19/1935 | Now you've got me doing it | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-95529 | 10-in. | 10/19/1935 | Thunder over paradise | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-95530 | 10-in. | 10/19/1935 | You stayed away too long | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-95531 | 10-in. | 10/19/1935 | Santa Claus is comin' to town | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-95532 | 10-in. | 10/19/1935 | Where am I? (Am I in heaven?) | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-95533 | 10-in. | 10/19/1935 | Broadway rhythm | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-95534 | 10-in. | 10/19/1935 | I'd rather listen to your eyes | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-95535 | 10-in. | 10/19/1935 | Here's to romance | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-98094 | 10-in. | 11/20/1935 | How do I rate with you? | California Ramblers ; Joan Hope | Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-98153 | 10-in. | 11/26/1935 | With all my heart | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-98154 | 10-in. | 11/26/1935 | A beautiful lady in blue | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-98155 | 10-in. | 11/26/1935 | I feel like a feather in the breeze | California Ramblers ; Eddie Lloyd | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-98156 | 10-in. | 11/26/1935 | I'll never forget I love you | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-98491 | 10-in. | 1/6/1936 | So this is heaven | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group | |
Victor | BS-98492 | 10-in. | 1/6/1936 | If I should lose you | California Ramblers ; Ted Wallace | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | Musical group |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed September 3, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.
California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.
"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 3 September 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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