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 176-200 of 506 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 144613 10-in. 8/31/1927 Zulu wail University Six Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W144692 10-in. 9/20/1927 Nothin' does-does like it used to do-do-do California Ramblers ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W144693 10-in. 9/20/1927 It was only a sun shower California Ramblers ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W144834 10-in. 10/7/1927 (Make my cot) Where the cot-cot-cotton grows California Ramblers ; Arthur Fields Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144877 10-in. 10/17/1927 Is she my girl-friend? University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144878 10-in. 10/17/1927 The beggar University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 144879 10-in. 10/17/1927 Manhattan Mary University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 145258 10-in. 11/30/1927 There's something Spanish in your eyes University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 145259 10-in. 11/30/1927 Tell me, little Daisy University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 145260 10-in. 11/30/1927 Changes University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W145411 10-in. 12/15/1927 Mine—all mine California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia W145412 10-in. 12/15/1927 Changes California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Columbia 145454 10-in. 12/31/1927 When you're with somebody else University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 145455 10-in. 12/31/1927 Mine—all mine University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 145456 10-in. 12/31/1927 Under the clover moon University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W145516 10-in. 1/14/1928 What do you say? California Ramblers ; Ed Kirkeby Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia W145529 10-in. 1/14/1928 Singapore sorrows California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 145567 10-in. 1/24/1928 What do you say? Jane Gray ; University Six Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 145568 10-in. 1/24/1928 You gotta be good to me Jane Gray ; University Six Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 145569 10-in. 1/24/1928 The grass grows greener ('Way down home) Dolly Kay ; University Six Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia 145570 10-in. 1/24/1928 Let a smile be your umbrella Dolly Kay ; University Six Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W145630 10-in. 2/10/1928 The pay-off California Ramblers Jazz/dance band Musical group  
Columbia W145631 10-in. 2/10/1928 Anything to make you happy California Ramblers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 145731 10-in. 3/5/1928 Stay out of the South (If you want to miss a heaven on earth) University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Columbia 145732 10-in. 3/5/1928 Lila University Six Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo Musical group  
(Results 176-200 of 506 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed April 17, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 17, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.

"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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