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 476-500 of 506 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Edison N-802 10-in. 3/18/1929 The one that I love loves me Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-803 10-in. 3/18/1929 Cradle of love Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-839 10-in. 4/5/1929 Avalon town Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-840 10-in. 4/5/1929 From sunrise to sunset (From sunset till dawn) Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-841 10-in. 4/6/1929 Lover, come back to me Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-856 10-in. 4/15/1929 That's living Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-868 10-in. 4/25/1929 Honey Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-869 10-in. 4/25/1929 My sin California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-870 10-in. 4/25/1929 Huggable kissable you California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-925 10-in. 5/28/1929 I get the blues when it rains California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with vocal Musical group  
Edison N-926 10-in. 5/28/1929 The wedding of the painted doll California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-938 10-in. 6/4/1929 Wishing and waiting for love California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-939 10-in. 6/4/1929 Broadway baby dolls California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-980 10-in. 6/26/1929 Painting the clouds with sunshine California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-981 10-in. 6/26/1929 Tip-toe thru' the tulips with me California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-1011 10-in. 7/10/1929 Song of the blues Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-1012 10-in. 7/10/1929 Some day you'll realize you're wrong California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with vocal Musical group  
Edison N-1034 10-in. 7/23/1929 Tip-toe through the tulips with me California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-1035 12-in. 7/23/1929 Song of the blues Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-1053 10-in. 8/1/1929 Song of the blues California Ramblers ; Phil Dewey Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison N-1054 10-in. 8/1/1929 Broken idol California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-1083 10-in. 8/22/1929 The moonlight march Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-1084 10-in. 8/22/1929 Ain't misbehavin' Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison N-1128 10-in. 9/13/1929 When you're counting the stars alone California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with vocal Musical group  
Edison N-1129 10-in. 9/13/1929 Pretty little you California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
(Results 476-500 of 506 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed May 17, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 17, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586

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