Tennessee Ramblers (Cecil Campbell)

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 - 1951

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 (Results 1-25 of 133 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-87238 10-in. 1/3/1935 When I take my vacation in heaven Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal trio, with instrumental quartet Musical group  
Victor BS-87239 10-in. 1/3/1935 Silver threads Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal trio, with instrumental trio Musical group  
Victor BS-87240 10-in. 1/3/1935 Wolfe's trail Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers String band Musical group  
Victor BS-87241 10-in. 1/3/1935 From the palms of Hawaii Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Steel guitars (Hawaiian) Musical group  
Victor BS-87242 10-in. 1/3/1935 March of the roses Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Steel guitars Musical group  
Victor BS-87243 10-in. 1/3/1935 Still talkin' Bill Blair ; Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal solo, with guitar Musical group  
Victor BS-87244 10-in. 1/3/1935 Long, long ago Bill Blair ; Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal solo, with 2 violins and guitar Musical group  
Victor BS-87245 10-in. 1/3/1935 I got the Carolina blues Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio and yodeling Musical group  
Victor BS-87246 10-in. 1/3/1935 Take this message to mother Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal trio, with instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BS-87247 10-in. 1/3/1935 My little hut in Carolina Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal trio, with instrumental trio Musical group  
Victor BS-87248 10-in. 1/3/1935 Pappy's breakdown Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers String band Musical group  
Victor BS-87249 10-in. 1/3/1935 She's long she's tall Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Vocal and instrumental ensemble, with yodeling Musical group  
Victor BS-87250 10-in. 1/3/1935 Beautiful heaven must be Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal trio, with 2 fiddles (violins) and 2 guitars Musical group  
Victor BS-87251 10-in. 1/3/1935 She's my curly-headed baby Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal trio, with 2 guitars Musical group  
Victor BS-87252 10-in. 1/3/1935 Loveless love Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal trio, with 2 fiddles (violins) and 2 guitars Musical group  
Victor BS-87253 10-in. 1/3/1935 When it's harvest time in Peaceful Valley Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal trio, with 2 fiddles (violins) and 2 guitars Musical group  
Victor BS-87254 10-in. 1/3/1935 Dad's favorite waltz Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers String band Musical group  
Victor BS-87255 10-in. 1/3/1935 South bound train Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Male vocal trio, with 2 fiddles (violins) and 2 guitars Musical group  
Victor BS-87256 10-in. 1/3/1935 Hot time Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Vocal and instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BS-87257 10-in. 1/3/1935 Don't go 'way, doggone ya Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers Instrumental ensemble Musical group  
Victor BS-94300 10-in. 8/4/1935 Mountain dew blues Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers ; Happy Morris String band and male vocal solo Musical group  
Victor BS-94301 10-in. 8/4/1935 Back to Old Smoky Mountain Curly Campbell ; Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers ; Pappy Wolfe String band, with male vocal duet Musical group  
Victor BS-94302 10-in. 8/4/1935 New Red River Valley Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers ; Happy Morris ; Pappy Wolfe String band, with male vocal duet Musical group  
Victor BS-94303 10-in. 8/4/1935 Beautiful Texas Curly Campbell ; Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers ; Happy Morris ; Pappy Wolfe String band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
Victor BS-94304 10-in. 8/4/1935 New how-do-you-do Curly Campbell ; Dick Hartman Tennessee Ramblers ; Pappy Wolfe String band, with male vocal trio Musical group  
(Results 1-25 of 133 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Tennessee Ramblers (Cecil Campbell)," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110935.

Tennessee Ramblers (Cecil Campbell). (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110935.

"Tennessee Ramblers (Cecil Campbell)." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110935

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