Adrian Rollini

Adrian Rollini

Source: Hit & Run

Born on 28 June 1903 in New York City, Adrian Rollini was a multi-instrumentalist band leader who played drums, piano, bass saxophone, couesnophone (goofus), xylophone, et al. He also composed and arranged. Though Rollini may have made earlier piano rolls for such as Aeolian, DeLuxe and QRS his first documented instance thus far identified is 'I've Got the Blues for My Kentucky Home' made for Republic in 1920. Brian Rust traces Rollini on flat disc to as early as April 1922 with the California Ramblers in NYC. The California Ramblers had been formed by vocalist, Ed Kirkeby, for Columbia Records and led by banjoist, Ray Kitchenman. Kirkeby would also variously direct. The California Ramblers scratched their first tracks on 17 November 1921 per '(Sheik of) Araby' and 'Georgia Rose' issued in January of 1922 on Vocalion 14275 [45Worlds]. As Kirkeby managed the group Kitchenman remained with the band while leadership passed to violinist, Arthur Hand. Rust identifies Rollini playing bass sax with the California Ramblers on 3 April 1922 for 'Tell Her at Twilight'. 'My Honey's Lovin' Arms' and 'Little Grey Sweetheart of Mine' followed on the 6th and 7th.

'(Sheik of) Araby'   California Ramblers led by Ray Kitchenman

Banjo: Ray Kitchenman   (Rollini out)

Recorded 17 Nov 1921 in NYC   Matrix 8261   Vocalion 14275

Composition: Smith / Wheeler / Snyder

'Georgia Rose'   California Ramblers led by Ray Kitchenman

Banjo: Ray Kitchenman   (Rollini out)

Recorded 17 Nov 1921 in NYC   Matrix 8266   Vocalion 14275

Composition: Rosenthal / Morgan

'My Honey's Lovin Arms'   California Ramblers led by Arthur Hand

Violin: Arthur Hand   Banjo: Ray Kitchenman   Bass sax: Adrian Rollini

Recorded 6 April 1922 in NYC   Vocalion 14329

Issued on ACO G-15112 as the Los Angeles Dance Orchestra

Composition: Herman Ruby / Joseph Meyer

Hand would depart from the Ramblers in 1925, leaving leadership of the band to Rollini who continued the practice of issuing on differing labels by differing band names, subgroups (having been) formed such as the Golden Gate Orchestra, the Five Birmingham Babies, the Varsity Eight, the Goofus Five, the Little Ramblers, the Vagabonds, and the University Six. Kirkeby and others also directed variously. Rollini also recorded with the Goofus Washboards. Per Rust, however, no washboard was used in that group. The only title in which a washboard was added is '(Make my cot) Where the cot-cot-cotton grows' by the Goofus Five on Parlophone R-108 recorded on 3 November 1927. In addition to leading bands Rollini was in high demand as a session musician with a long thread of big name artists with whom he also performed in hotels and clubs including his own. On numerous titles below he played the goofus (couesnophone pronounced "queenophone") in addition to bass sax.

'I Must Have Company'   Rollini on bass sax w the California Ramblers

Recorded 10 March 1924 in NYC   Columbia 105-D

Composition: George Meyer

'She Loves Me'   Rollini on bass sax w the Varsity Eight

Recorded 20 Aug 1924 in NYC   Cameo 593

Composition: Brown / Beda / Egen

'Rose Marie'   Rollini on bass sax w the California Ramblers

Recorded 8 Sep 1924 in NYC   Issued variously:

California Ramblers: Banner 1407

Clarence Sherman's Orchestra: Domino 393

Golden Gate Orchestra: Imperial 1417

'Too Tired'   Rollini on bass sax w the Golden Gate Orchestra

Recorded 9 Sep 1924 in NYC   Pathe-Actuelle PA 036137

Composition: Arthur Sizemore / George Little / Larry Shay

'Copenhagen'   Rollini on bass sax w the Five Birmingham Babies

Recorded 10 Nov 1924 in NYC   Issued pseudonymously:

Brennan's Broadway Band: Grafton 9132

California Ramblers: Pathe-Actuelle PA 10907

Five Birmingham Babies: Pathe-Actuelle PA 036169

Lennox Dance Orchestra: Grand Pree 18426

Composition: Charlie Davis

'Cross Words'   Rollini on bass sax w the Little Ramblers   Vocal: Billy Jones

Recorded 30 March 1925 in NYC   Matrix 140476-2  Col 346-D

Composition: Haegncy / Reed / Steele / Schafer

'Don't Bring Lulu'   Rollini on bass sax w the Little Ramblers   Vocal: Billy Jones

Recorded 30 March 1925 in NYC   Matrix 140477-1   Col 346-D

Composition: Ray Henderson / Billy Rose / Lew Brown

'Remember the Night'   Rollini on bass sax w the California Ramblers

Recorded 18 March 1926 in NYC   Columbia 610-D

Composition: Ray Henderson

'Remember the Night'   Rollini on bass sax w the Five Birmingham Babies

Recorded 22 April 1926 in NYC   Pathe-Actuelle PA 36454 / Perfect 14635

Composition: Adrian Rollini

'My Baby Knows How'   Rollini on bass sax w the California Ramblers

Vocal: Frank Harris (Irving Kaufman)

Recorded 25 Oct 1926 in NYC   Col 800-D

Composition: Benny Davis / Harry Akst / Harry Richman

'Crazy Words, Crazy Tune'   Rollini on bass sax w the California Ramblers

Vocal: Ed Kirkeby

Recorded 27 Jan 1927 in NYC   Pathe-Actuelle PA 36590 / Perfect 14771

Music: Milton Ager   Lyrics: Jack Yellen

'The Wang Wang Blues'   Rollini on bass sax w the Goofus Five

Recorded 14 April 1927 in NYC   Okeh 40817 / Vocalion 3138 / Parlophone R-3350

Composition: Gus Meuller / Bert Johnson / Henry Busse

'Vo-Do-Do-De-O Blues'   Rollini on bass sax w the California Ramblers

Vocal: Ed Kirkeby

Recorded 26 May 1927 in NYC   Columbia 1038-D

Issued on Columbia 0762 as the Denza Dance Band

Music: Milton Ager   Lyrics: Jack Yellen

'Magnolia'   Rollini w the Golden Gate Orchestra

Recorded 27 May 1927 in NYC   Banner 1999   Other labels as:

California Ramblers / Gorman's Sundowners / Majestic Dance Orchestra / Riviera Palace Orchestra

Composition: Buddy DeSylva / Lew Brown / Ray Henderson

'Clementine'   Rollini on bass sax w the Goofus Five   Vocal: Sadie Green (Beth Challis)

Recorded 10 Aug 1927 in NYC

Okeh 40886 / Parlophone R 3421 (UK) / Lindström American 4908 (Germany)

Composition: Harry Warren / Henry Creamer

'Under the Moon'   Rollini on bass sax w Fred Elizalde & His Music   Piano: Elizalde

Recorded 15 Jan 1928 in NYC   Brunswick 143

Composition: Ev E. Lyn / Francis Wheeler / Ted Snyder

'It Had to Be You'   Rollini on bass & tenor sax w His Orchestra   Vocal: Ella Logan

Recorded 23 Oct 1934 in NYC   Matrix 38874   Unissued   Later releases:

'Swing Low' on Affinity CD AFS 1030 / 1992

'Tap Room Swing' Living Era CD AJA 5424 / 2002

Music: Isham Jones   Lyrics: Gus Kahn

'Sugar'   Rollini on bass & tenor sax w His Orchestra

Recorded 23 Oct 1934 in NYC   Matrix 38875-A

Decca 265 / Brunswick 01942 / Odeon 284143

Composition: Edna Alexander / Maceo Pinkard / Sidney Mitchell

'Davenport Blues'   Rollini on bass & tenor sax w His Orchestra

Recorded 23 Oct 1934 in NYC   Matrix 38876-A

Decca 265 & 3862 / Brunswick 80144 & 01942 / Odeon 284143

Composition: Bix Beiderbecke

'Somebody Loves Me'   Rollini on bass & tenor sax w His Orchestra

Recorded 23 Oct 1934 in NYC   Matrix 38877-A

Decca 359 & 3525 / Brunswick 80144 & 03447

Composition: George Gershwin / Buddy De Sylva / Ballard MacDonald

'Got the Jitters'   Rollini w His Orchestra   Vocal: Chick Bullock

Recorded 11 Jan 1934 in NYC   Banner 32950 / Perfect 15877

Composition: Rose / Webster / Loeb

'Tiger Rag'   Rollini on bass sax w the Fred Rich Orchestra   Film: Pathe Review 1934

Composition: Nick LaRocca (ODJB)

In 1934 Rollini had opened Adrian’s Tap Room in the Hotel President at 234 W 48th Street in NYC where his gradual shift from bass sax to vibraphone found emphasis.

'Got a Need For You'   Rollini on bass sax & vibes w the Tap Room Gang

Vocals: Jeanne Burns w Billy (William) Maxey

Recorded 14 June 1935 in NYC   Victor 25072 / HMV B-8382

Composition: Jeanne Burns

'St. Louis Blues' (5:07)   Rollini on vibes w Richard Himber & His Orchestra

Film: 'Himber Harmonies' featuring Alice Marion (2:02) & the Rollini Trio (5:07)

Rollini's partners on bass and guitar in this trio remain anonymous as if this writing

Filming completed 25 October 1937 [Ate van Deldon]

Released 28 Jan 1938 [Webb] or 16 Feb 1938 [Mintun]

Composition: W. C. Handy

'Bill'   Rollini on bass sax w His Orchestra

Piano: Jackie Russin   Drums: Buddy Rich

Recorded 7 Jan 1938 in NYC   Decca 1638 / Vocalion S-191

Music: Jerome Kern   Lyrics: P. G. Wodehouse

'Bei Mir Bist Du Schön'   Rollini on vibes w His Quintet

Trumpet: Bobby Hackett   Drums: Buddy Rich   Vocal: Sunny Skylar (Sonny Schuyler)

Recorded 18 Jan 1938 in NYC   Decca 1638

Music: Sholom Secunda   Lyrics Yiddish: Jacob Jacobs   1922

Lyrics English: Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin

In 1948 Rollini's trio of Allen Hanlon on guitar and George Hnida at string bass featured in films directed by Leonard Anderson, owner of Video Varieties. Films below are stacked alphabetically.

'Dark Eyes'   Adrian Rollini Trio   Vibes: Rollini   1948

Composition: Russian

'Girl with Light Blue Hair'   Adrian Rollini Trio   Vibes: Rollini   1948

'Loch Lomond'   Adrian Rollini Trio   Vibes: Rollini   1948

Composition: Flora Donaldson 1900

'Martha (M'apparì tutt'amor)'   Adrian Rollini Trio   Vibes: Rollini   1948

Composition: Friedrich von Flotow

'Minute Waltz'   Adrian Rollini Trio   Piano: Rollini   1948

Composition: Chopin (Op.64 No.1)

'Oya Negra' & 'Liza'   Adrian Rollini Trio

Vibes: Rollini   Guitar: Harry Sosnick   String bass: John Conte

Radio broadcast 4 Dec 1949   Treasury Department Guest Star 141

Composition 'Oya Negra': Johnnie Camacho / Noro Morales

Music 'Liza': George Gershwin   Lyrics: Ira Gershwin / Gus Kahn

Episodes 1 through 381 of the Treasury Department's Guest Star radio program have been uploaded to Internet Archive by jfyuga. Radio episode numbers are not the same as record label numbers. The Adrian Rollini Trio is Episode 128 rather than Treasury Department 141. Bing Crosby is Episode 141.

Beyond music, Rollini's love was boating, both speed and fishing. Upon retiring in the fifties he invested in hotels. In 1956 Rollini was involved in an auto accident requiring hospitalization for a nigh severed foot. Sometime during the next eighteen days at the James Arthur Smith Hospital in Homestead, Florida, he was exposed to mercury, then died of poisoning the fifteenth of May. Rollini was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1998.