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 276-300 of 506 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 149131 10-in. 10/11/1929 Alma mammy Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149431 10-in. 11/18/1929 Lucky me—lovable you Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149433 10-in. 11/18/1929 Mary Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149600 10-in. 12/17/1929 Can't you understand? Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149601 10-in. 12/17/1929 What do I care? Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149602 10-in. 12/17/1929 Look what you've done to me Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W149916 10-in. 1/27/1930 Happy days are here again Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 149917 10-in. 1/27/1930 Oh! How I adore you Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W149918 10-in. 1/27/1930 You've got that thing Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150037 10-in. 2/27/1930 You will come back to me Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150038 10-in. 2/27/1930 Sweetheart Jim Andrews ; The Harmonians [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150039 10-in. 2/27/1930 A bundle of old love letters Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150040 10-in. 2/27/1930 You can't stop me from falling in love with you Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150134 10-in. 3/27/1930 I never dreamt Barney Trimble and his Oklahomans [California Ramblers] ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150135 10-in. 3/27/1930 Telling it to the daisies (But it never gets back to you) Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150136 10-in. 3/27/1930 Funny, dear, what love can do Jim Andrews ; The Harmonians [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150137 10-in. 3/27/1930 Reminiscing Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W150423 10-in. 5/15/1930 I'm needin' you California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W150424 10-in. 5/15/1930 Washin' the blues from my soul California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia 150475 10-in. 4/17/1930 Rollin' down the river Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150476 10-in. 4/17/1930 Sing a little theme song Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150477 10-in. 4/17/1930 The moonlight reminds me of you Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150526 10-in. 5/23/1930 Into my heart Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150527 10-in. 5/23/1930 You're the sweetest girl this side of heaven Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 150528 10-in. 5/23/1930 There's a wah wah gal in Agua Caliente Jim Andrews ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
(Results 276-300 of 506 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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