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 26-50 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-064133 10-in. 4/23/1941 What's the matter with love? Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064134 10-in. 4/23/1941 Country boy blues Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064135 10-in. 4/23/1941 How can I go on Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064182 10-in. 6/24/1941 Georgia, Georgia blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064183 10-in. 6/24/1941 I got a right to be blue Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064184 10-in. 6/24/1941 Don't deal with the devil Big Maceo ; Ransom Knowling ; Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064185 10-in. 6/24/1941 She's love crazy Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064186 10-in. 6/24/1941 It's a low down shame Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064187 10-in. 6/24/1941 You better be ready to go Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064188 10-in. 6/24/1941 No, baby, no Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064189 10-in. 6/24/1941 So far, so good Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064191 10-in. 6/24/1941 Ramblin' mind blues Big Maceo Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064194 10-in. 6/24/1941 So long, baby Big Maceo Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064490 10-in. 7/2/1941 I'm gonna catch you soon Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064491 10-in. 7/2/1941 Million years blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064492 10-in. 7/2/1941 Shady Grove blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064493 10-in. 7/2/1941 Sloppy drunk blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064494 10-in. 7/2/1941 She was a dreamer Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064495 10-in. 7/2/1941 You got to step back Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064727 10-in. 7/23/1941 Hello babe Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064728 10-in. 7/23/1941 If I didn't love you Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064729 10-in. 7/23/1941 Let's be friends Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064730 10-in. 7/23/1941 Because I love my daddy so Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064731 10-in. 7/23/1941 I'm going to start a racket Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-064732 10-in. 7/23/1941 You're just full of jive Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 26-50 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Knowling, Ransom," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

Knowling, Ransom. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

"Knowling, Ransom." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 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

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