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 126-150 of 506 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W141996 10-in. 4/21/1926 The girl friend California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 142195 10-in. 5/12/1926 Tiger rag University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 142196 10-in. 5/12/1926 San University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 142197 10-in. 5/12/1926 Ace in the hole University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W142279 10-in. 6/7/1926 Ya gotta know how to love California Ramblers ; Arthur Fields Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W142280 10-in. 6/7/1926 I'm just wild about animal crackers! California Ramblers ; Frank Harris Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W142462 10-in. 7/20/1926 She belongs to me California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W142463 10-in. 7/20/1926 Me too California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 142490 10-in. 8/2/1926 St. Louis hop University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 142491 10-in. 8/2/1926 Oh! If I only had you University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 142492 10-in. 8/2/1926 I ain't got nobody University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W142647 10-in. 9/18/1926 Gone again gal California Ramblers ; Ernest Hare Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W142648 10-in. 9/18/1926 She knows her onions California Ramblers ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 142678 10-in. 9/22/1926 That's a good girl University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 142679 10-in. 9/22/1926 Give me a ukulele University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 142680 10-in. 9/22/1926 Wait'll you see (My brand new mama) University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W142870 10-in. 10/25/1926 Here comes Fatima California Ramblers ; Frank Harris Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W142871 10-in. 10/25/1926 My baby knows how California Ramblers ; Frank Harris Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 142899 10-in. 11/1/1926 My baby knows how Arthur Fields ; University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 142900 10-in. 11/1/1926 It takes a good woman (To keep a good man at home) Arthur Fields ; University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 142901 10-in. 11/1/1926 Lonely eyes University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W143174 10-in. 12/10/1926 Tell me to-night California Ramblers ; Frank Harris Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W143175 10-in. 12/10/1926 Too many kisses in the summer California Ramblers ; Frank Harris Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W143220 10-in. 12/27/1926 Nobody but my baby University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 143221 10-in. 12/27/1926 I wish I could shimmy like my sister Kate University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
(Results 126-150 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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