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 226-250 of 506 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 146934 10-in. 8/31/1928 Japanese mammy Chuck Campbell and his Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 146935 10-in. 8/31/1928 To know you is to love you Barney Trimble and his Oklahomans [California Ramblers] ; Lester Cortes Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia [W]146993 10-in. 9/13/1928 That's just my way of forgetting you Gay Ellis ; University Six Female vocal solo, with instrumental sextet Musical group  
Columbia [W]146994 10-in. 9/13/1928 High up on a hill-top Gay Ellis ; University Six Female vocal solo, with instrumental sextet Musical group  
Columbia 147129 10-in. 10/11/1928 My old girl's my new girl now Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147130 10-in. 10/11/1928 Don't be like that Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147166 10-in. 10/30/1928 Cross roads Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Billy Murray Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147167 10-in. 10/30/1928 Watching the clouds roll by Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Billy Murray Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147168 10-in. 10/30/1928 Me and the man in the moon Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Billy Murray Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147672 10-in. 12/28/1928 Glad rag doll Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147679 10-in. 12/28/1928 Please let me dream in your arms Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147701 10-in. 12/6/1928 Caressing you California Ramblers ; Arthur Fields Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147702 10-in. 12/6/1928 My troubles are over Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147703 10-in. 12/6/1928 Judy Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147732 10-in. 12/28/1928 Give your little baby lots of lovin' California Ramblers ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147734 10-in. 12/28/1928 Live and love California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147735 10-in. 12/28/1928 You wouldn't fool me, would you? Arthur Ross and his Westerners [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147910 10-in. 2/1/1929 Who wouldn't be jealous of you? Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147911 10-in. 2/1/1929 Weary river Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; John Ryan Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 147912 10-in. 2/1/1929 I'd rather be blue over you (Than be happy with somebody else) Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; John Ryan Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148048 10-in. 3/11/1929 Who cares what you have been? Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148049 10-in. 3/11/1929 An eye-full of you Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148052 10-in. 3/11/1929 My sugar and me Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148381 10-in. 4/26/1929 Why can't you? Tom Frawley ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 148382 10-in. 4/26/1929 Satisfied Dick Burnett ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
(Results 226-250 of 506 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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