Caption: John Held Jr.
John Held Jr. 

The Golden Gate Orchestra

From: Guy Rathbun
Series: the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy
Length: 58:56

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Whenever bandleader Ed Kirkeby wanted his band to record for another label, he’d tag them with another name. Hence: The Golden Gate Orchestra. An offshoot of the California Ramblers, the GGO recorded dozens of sides between 1924 and 1927 augmented with the multi-instrumentalist Adrian Rollini. Read the full description.

John_held_jr

Not one member of the band was from California, but by adopting a name that denoted a well traveled, experienced, sought-after group of musicians, the moniker created a aura of excitement. They became the embodiment of the young co-eds who bought their records, the seeds of which eventually led to the pop culture art of John Held Jr., and the burning image of the flapper.

Also in the the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy series

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Ah, summer, the shortest season of the year. Or, at least it seems that way. This show is devoted to a few really hot bands and vocalists who guarantee to raise the temperature.
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This program is devoted to those pioneers of jazz piano from Scott Joplin to Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller.
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St. Louis Shuffle (58:58)
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Johnson's Jazzers (58:57)
From: Guy Rathbun

Original stride pianist James P. Johnson began his professional recording career in 1916 with the Aeolian Company by recording several piano rolls. Five years later he lead ...
Caption: Sam Lanin

Turn on the Heat (58:57)
From: Guy Rathbun

Largely forgotten, bandleader Sam Lanin is possibly the most prolific recording artist of the 1920s. No one really knows just how many records he is responsible for simply ...
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Puttin' On the Ritz (58:59)
From: Guy Rathbun

Composer and lyricist Jerome Kern summed up the life and work of Israel Baline (Irving Berlin) when he said, “Irving Berlin has no place in American music. He is American ...
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The Kid (58:57)
From: Guy Rathbun

By 1911, tailgate trombonist Kid Ory was leading one of the best-known bands in New Orleans. Eight years later he formed a successful band in Los Angeles, but after five ...
Piece image

The Hawk: 40-years with Coleman Hawkins (58:58)
From: Guy Rathbun

Considered the first great tenor saxophonist in jazz, Coleman Hawkins was a child he was a gifted musician. In 1922, Mamie Smith spotted him in and hired him to play with her ...
Caption: Bandleader Billy Cotton

Billy Cotton: That Rhythm Man (58:57)
From: Guy Rathbun

Despite the vast popularity of "That Rhythm Man," as Billy Cotton was known, his recognition did not reach the states like the bands lead by Ambrose, Noble, Hilton and others.
Caption: Cliff Edwards with Ukelele

The Uke (58:57)
From: Guy Rathbun

The ukulele became as commonplace in the American parlor as the piano in the 1920s. Today we think of the tiny guitar as a Hawaiian instrument, when in reality, it was ...

Piece Description

Not one member of the band was from California, but by adopting a name that denoted a well traveled, experienced, sought-after group of musicians, the moniker created a aura of excitement. They became the embodiment of the young co-eds who bought their records, the seeds of which eventually led to the pop culture art of John Held Jr., and the burning image of the flapper.

Broadcast History

KCBX Public Radio

Timing and Cues

Incue to segment 1 @ 00:00: Theme ...
Outcue of segment 1 @ 18:54: " ... right after this brief break."
62s break with music bed
Incue to segment 2 @ 19:56: music ...
Outcue of segment 2 @ 39:36: "right after this brief break."
62s break with music bed
Incue to segment 3 @ 40:48: music ...
Outcue of segment 3 @ 58:57: ... theme ends.

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Dustin’ the Donkey The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1925 02:52
Lots of Mama The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1924 02:47
Tiger Rag The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1925 02:57
Make Those Naughty Eyes Behave The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1925 02:39
Red Hot Henry Brown The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1925 02:30
I Ain’t Got Nobody The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1925 03:01
Fallin’ Down The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1925 02:35
Jelly Roll Blues The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1927 02:31
Here Comes Emaline The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra 1926 02:30
Heart Breakin’ Baby The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1927 03:04
Don’t Take That Black Bottom Away The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1926 02:48
After You’ve Gone The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1927 03:02
Crazy Words, Crazy Tunes The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1927 02:59
Vo-Do-Do-De-O Blues The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1927 02:48
Magnolia The Golden Gate Orchestra Adrian Rollini & the Golden Gate Orchestra. Timeless 1927 03:02