Ransom Knowling

Ransom Knowling (24 June 1912 – 22 October 1967) was an American rhythm and blues musician, best known for playing bass on many blues recordings made in Chicago between the 1930s and 1950s, including those of Arthur Crudup and Little Brother Montgomery.

He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and began playing professionally around 1930 in the New Orleans bands led by Sidney Desvigne and Joe Robichaux. As well as bass, he played violin and tuba. By the late 1930s, he had moved to Chicago, and played on many of the blues records made in the city, including those by the Harlem Hamfats, Big Bill Broonzy, Roosevelt Sykes, Washboard Sam, Sonny Boy Williamson, T-Bone Walker, Tommy McClennan, and Muddy Waters. He played on Arthur Crudup's "That's All Right", recorded in 1946.

He died in Chicago in 1967, aged 55.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 24, 1912 (New Orleans), Died October 22, 1967 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1951

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass, tuba

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

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D9VB-0419 10-in. 3/10/1949 Dust my broom Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0420 10-in. 3/10/1949 Hand me down my walking cane Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0421 10-in. 3/10/1949 Shout, sister, shout Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0422 10-in. 3/11/1949 Come back, baby Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0423 10-in. 3/11/1949 You know that I love you Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0424 10-in. 3/11/1949 Mercy blues Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0425 10-in. 3/11/1949 She's just like Caledonia Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0426 10-in. 3/10/1949 What the blues will do Arbee Stidham Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0435 10-in. 3/10/1949 A heart full of misery Arbee Stidham Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0436 10-in. 3/10/1949 Falling blues Arbee Stidham Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0437 10-in. 3/10/1949 You'll be sorry Arbee Stidham Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0438 10-in. 3/10/1949 I've got so many worries Arbee Stidham Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0460 10-in. 3/24/1949 It's a brand new boogey Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0461 10-in. 3/24/1949 Come on, if you're coming Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0462 10-in. 3/24/1949 Please try to see it my way Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0463 10-in. 3/24/1949 When things go wrong with you Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-1147 10-in. 7/21/1949 Put your money where your mouth is Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-1148 10-in. 7/21/1949 That's her own business Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-1149 10-in. 7/21/1949 It's too late now Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-1150 10-in. 7/21/1949 I'll find my way Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-1999 10-in. 10/27/1949 You said you loved me Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) ; Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-2000 10-in. 10/27/1949 Motherless child blues Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-2001 10-in. 10/27/1949 Gamblin' man Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-2002 10-in. 10/27/1949 Market street swing Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) ; Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 91074 10-in. 1/14/1937 Hallelujah Joe ain't preachin' no more The Harlem Hamfats instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 226-250 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Knowling, Ransom," accessed April 27, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

Knowling, Ransom. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 27, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

"Knowling, Ransom." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 27 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976

External Sources

Wikipedia: Ransom Knowling

Discogs: Ransom Knowling

Allmusic: Ransom Knowling

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Knowling, Ransom - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n88613451

Wikidata: Ransom Knowling - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1703791

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/46946900

MusicBrainz: Ransom Knowling - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/7bedf65b-2f37-414a-9636-2a100537a296

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.