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 451-475 of 506 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Edison N-347 10-in. 7/25/1928 Out of the dawn McAlpineers ; Roy Rogers [J. Donald Parker] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-396 10-in. 8/29/1928 Vaniteaser Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-397 10-in. 8/29/1928 All of the time Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-400 12-in. 8/30/1928 Memories of France McAlpineers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Edison N-401 12-in. 8/30/1928 Jeannine, I dream of lilac time McAlpineers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Edison N-444 12-in. 9/19/1928 High up on a hill-top McAlpineers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-445 12-in. 9/19/1928 To know you is to love you Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-461 12-in. 9/25/1928 Then came the dawn McAlpineers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-516 10-in. 10/18/1928 There's a rainbow 'round my shoulder California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-526 10-in. 10/24/1928 Black and blue rhapsody California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-527 10-in. 10/25/1928 Chinese jumble California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-635 10-in. 12/14/1928 Sweetheart of all my dreams Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio Musical group  
Edison N-636 12-in. 12/14/1928 Along came sweetness Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio Musical group  
Edison N-657 10-in. 12/26/1928 Glad rag doll Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-658 10-in. 12/26/1928 Please let me dream in your arms Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-696 10-in. 1/11/1929 Sweethearts on parade Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-697 10-in. 1/11/1929 I'll never ask for more Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Van Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-710 10-in. 1/18/1929 Button up your overcoat Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Happy Jack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-711 10-in. 1/18/1929 I want to be bad Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Happy Jack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-745 10-in. 2/19/1929 Guess who? Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-776 10-in. 3/8/1929 My castle in Spain is a shack in the lane Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-777 10-in. 3/8/1929 When I'm walkin' with my sweetness (Down among the sugar cane) Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-799 10-in. 3/16/1929 A precious little thing called love Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-800 10-in. 3/16/1929 My suppressed desire Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-801 10-in. 3/18/1929 Dream train Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
(Results 451-475 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

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