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 151-175 of 506 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 143222 10-in. 12/27/1926 Beale Street blues University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W143233 10-in. 12/30/1926 Hop skip California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W143234 10-in. 12/30/1926 Stockholm stomp California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W143317 10-in. 1/19/1927 I love the college girls California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble Musical group  
Columbia 143446 10-in. 2/7/1927 Nobody but (My baby is getting my love) University Six ; Hal White Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 143447 10-in. 2/7/1927 Oh Lizzie University Six ; Hal White Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 143448 10-in. 2/7/1927 The cat University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 143449 10-in. 2/7/1927 It's O.K. Katy with me University Six ; Hal White Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W143723 10-in. 3/29/1927 Pardon the glove California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W143724 10-in. 3/29/1927 Yes she do (No she don't) California Ramblers ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144021 10-in. 4/12/1927 So long pal Arthur Fields ; University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144022 10-in. 4/12/1927 Rosy cheeks University Six ; Hal White Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144023 10-in. 4/12/1927 Yes she do (No she don't) University Six ; Hal White Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144223 10-in. 5/25/1927 Slow river University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144224 10-in. 5/25/1927 She's got "it"! Arthur Fields ; University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144225 10-in. 5/25/1927 Lazy weather University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W144230 10-in. 5/26/1927 Lazy weather California Ramblers ; Arthur Fields Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W144231 10-in. 5/26/1927 Vo-do-do-de-o blues California Ramblers ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144264 10-in. 6/9/1927 Bless her little heart Arthur Fields ; University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144265 10-in. 6/9/1927 Ain't that a grand and glorious feeling? Arthur Fields ; University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144472 10-in. 7/20/1927 Roam on, my little gypsy sweetheart University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144473 10-in. 7/20/1927 Pastafazoola University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and male vocal duet Musical group  
Columbia 144474 10-in. 7/20/1927 Swanee shore University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 144609 10-in. 8/31/1927 Who's that, knocking at my door? University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144612 10-in. 8/31/1927 Oh Doris! Where do you live? University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
(Results 151-175 of 506 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed May 2, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 2, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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