Tennessee Ramblers

The Tennessee Ramblers were an American Country and Western swing band that originally consisted of Dick Hartman (1898–1962) on mandolin and vocals, Harry Blair on guitar and vocals, Kenneth Wolfe on fiddle, and Cecil Campbell on banjo and steel guitar. Hartman formed the band in 1928 to perform on Pittsburgh radio station KDKA. In 1934, the band moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, which remained their base for most of the band's lifespan. While in Charlotte, the group played on WBT.

By the time the Tennessee Ramblers made their first recording for Bluebird Records in 1935, they had added bassist Fred Morris, fiddler Elmer Warren, and a novelty musician named Jack Gillette. The band performed in the 1936 motion picture Ride Ranger Ride and the 1937 film The Yodelin' Kid from Pine Ridge, both starring Gene Autry. Although Hartman left the group in 1938, the band continued performing under the leadership of Gillette. They appeared in several films in the early 1940s, including Tex Ritter's The Pioneers in 1941.

In 1949, Harry Blair retired, leaving Campbell as the last remaining original member. Campbell continued using the band's name, however, until the 1980s.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1928

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1929

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick K100 10-in. 8/27/1929 Garbage can blues Tennessee Ramblers Vocal, with fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick K101 10-in. 8/27/1929 Tennessee traveler Tennessee Ramblers Vocal, with fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick K102 10-in. 8/27/1929 Ramblers’ march Tennessee Ramblers Vocal, with fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick K103 10-in. 8/27/1929 In my dear old sunny South Tennessee Ramblers Vocal, with fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick K104 10-in. 8/27/1929 [Unkjnown title(s)] Tennessee Ramblers Vocal, with fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick K105 10-in. 8/27/1929 Hawaiian medley Tennessee Ramblers Fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick K106 10-in. 8/27/1929 Give the fiddlers a dram Tennessee Ramblers Vocal, with fiddle (violin), banjo, and guitar Musical group  
Brunswick AL307-AL308 10-in. 2/17/1928 A fiddler’s contest Tennessee Ramblers Fiddle (violin), guitar, and banjo Musical group  
Brunswick AL309-AL310 10-in. 2/17/1928 Arkansas traveller Tennessee Ramblers Fiddle (violin), guitar, and banjo Musical group  
Brunswick AL311-AL312 10-in. 2/17/1928 Satisfied Tennessee Ramblers Fiddle (violin), guitar, and banjo Musical group  
Brunswick AL313-AL314 10-in. 2/17/1928 Cackling pullet Tennessee Ramblers Fiddle (violin), guitar, and banjo Musical group  
Brunswick AL315-AL316 10-in. 2/17/1928 The preacher got drunk and laid his Bible down Tennessee Ramblers Instrumental trio, with male vocal solo Musical group  
Brunswick AL325-AL326 10-in. 2/18/1928 [Unknown title(s)] Tennessee Ramblers Fiddle (violin), guitar, and banjo Musical group  
Brunswick AL327-AL328 10-in. 2/18/1928 Medley of mountain songs Tennessee Ramblers Fiddle (violin), guitar, and banjo Musical group  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tennessee Ramblers," accessed November 19, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110936.

Tennessee Ramblers. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 19, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110936.

"Tennessee Ramblers." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/110936

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