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 514 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 |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "California Ramblers," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.
California Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110586.
"California Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: California Ramblers
Discogs: California Ramblers
Allmusic: California Ramblers
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: California Ramblers - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no97061457
Wikidata: California Ramblers - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1310206
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/134477656
MusicBrainz: California Ramblers - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/ac2ae864-33c3-4dd8-872d-6c516cfc9db2
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