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 326-350 of 506 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Edison 10113 12-in. 9/15/1926 October sample record no. 11 Joe Candullo ; Duke Yellman Orchestra ; Everglades Orchestra ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Harold Stern Hotel Belleclaire Orchestra ; Jack Albin Orchestra Dubbed recordings Musical group  
Edison 10117 12-in. 11/17/1926 December sample record no. 13 Don Voorhees Orchestra ; Duke Yellman Orchestra ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Jack Albin Orchestra ; Jazz Babies ; Earl Oliver Dubbed recordings Musical group  
Edison 10292 10-in. 4/2/1925 Charleston Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10293 10-in. 4/2/1925 On the Oregon Trail Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10331 10-in. 4/22/1925 Ev'rything is hotsy totsy now Vernon Dalhart ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison 10332 10-in. 4/22/1925 The flapper wife Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Arthur Hall Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison 10361 10-in. 5/11/1925 Cheatin' on me Vernon Dalhart ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison 10362 10-in. 5/11/1925 When the moon shines in Coral Gables Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Charles Hart Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison 10451 10-in. 6/23/1925 Collegiate Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with vocal Musical group  
Edison 10452 10-in. 6/23/1925 Look who's here! Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10500 10-in. 7/15/1925 Oh say! Can I see you to-night Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Arthur Hall Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison 10501 10-in. 7/15/1925 Manhattan Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10574 10-in. 9/15/1925 Sweet man Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10575 10-in. 9/15/1925 Brown eyes, why are you blue? Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10637 10-in. 10/15/1925 Freshie Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10638 10-in. 10/15/1925 Don't wait too long Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10692 10-in. 11/24/1925 Clap hands! Here comes Charley! Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Arthur Hall ; John Ryan Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet Musical group  
Edison 10693 10-in. 11/24/1925 Five foot two, eyes of blue (Has anybody seen my girl?) Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; Arthur Hall ; John Ryan Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet Musical group  
Edison 10895 10-in. 3/26/1926 After I say I'm sorry (What can I say) Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10896 10-in. 3/26/1926 Here comes Malinda Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10929 10-in. 4/16/1926 What a man! Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison 10930 10-in. 4/16/1926 "Shake" Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10939 10-in. 4/23/1926 Could I? I certainly could Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] ; John Ryan Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Edison 10940 10-in. 4/23/1926 Static strut Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Edison 10974 10-in. 5/11/1926 Hard-to-get Gertie Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] Jazz/dance band Musical group  
(Results 326-350 of 506 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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