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 301-325 of 506 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W150582 10-in. 6/12/1930 I love you so much California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W150583 10-in. 6/12/1930 F'r instance California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W150974 10-in. 11/25/1930 All alone Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W150975 10-in. 11/25/1930 Think about me Wally Edwards and his Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia [W]150976 10-in. 11/25/1930 I love you more and more Wally Edwards and his Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet Musical group  
Columbia [W]150977 10-in. 11/25/1930 Fox trot Wally Edwards and his Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W150978 10-in. 11/25/1930 Every hour Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W150979 10-in. 11/25/1930 One sweet kiss Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W150993 10-in. 12/2/1930 The peanut vendor California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W150994 10-in. 12/2/1930 Twenty Swedes ran through the weeds (Chasing one Norwegian) California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W151262 10-in. 2/2/1931 The king's horses (And the king's men) California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W151263 10-in. 2/2/1931 The Sleepy Town Express California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W151476 10-in. 3/30/1931 Fiesta California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W151477 10-in. 3/30/1931 On a night made for love California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W151825 10-in. 10/5/1931 Waitin' for a call from you Ted Wallace and his Campus Boys [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W151826 10-in. 10/5/1931 Who am I? Ted Wallace and his Campus Boys [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W151827 10-in. 10/5/1931 Concentratin' California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W151876 10-in. 11/11/1931 I promise you Ted Wallace and his Campus Boys [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W151877 10-in. 11/11/1931 Home Ted Wallace and his Campus Boys [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W151878 10-in. 11/11/1931 When I wore my daddy's brown derby Ted Wallace and his Campus Boys [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
OKeh S-70438 10-in. Feb. 1922 My mammy knows California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
OKeh S-70439 10-in. Feb. 1922 While Miami dreams California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 9947 10-in. 1/19/1925 Keep smiling at trouble (Trouble's a bubble) Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 9948 10-in. 1/19/1925 Oh! Mabel Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10103 12-in. 4/16/1926 May sample record no. 6 Billy Wynne Orchestra ; California Ramblers ; Dave Kaplan Novelty Orchestra ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Jazz Babies ; Kaplan's Melodists Dubbed recordings Musical group  
(Results 301-325 of 506 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed May 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.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.