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 51-75 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-070196 10-in. 1/21/1942 99 blues Lil Green Trio Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070197 10-in. 1/21/1942 Don't know what I will do Lil Green Trio Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070198 10-in. 1/21/1942 You got me to the place Lil Green Trio Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070199 10-in. 1/21/1942 Keep your hand on your heart Lil Green Trio Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070695 10-in. 1/30/1942 I'll get you off my mind Big Joe and his Rhythm Washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070696 10-in. 1/30/1942 It ain't no lie Big Joe and his Rhythm Washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070800 10-in. 1/21/1942 I have a place to go Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070801 10-in. 1/21/1942 If you want to share your love Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070802 10-in. 1/21/1942 If I'm a fool Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070803 10-in. 1/21/1942 I'm wasting my time on you Lil Green Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070859 10-in. 4/15/1942 Standing at my window Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with electric guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070860 10-in. 4/15/1942 Gonna follow my baby Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with electric guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070861 10-in. 4/15/1942 Give me a 32-20 Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with electric guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070862 10-in. 4/15/1942 My mama don't allow me Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with electric guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070863 10-in. 4/15/1942 Mean old 'Frisco blues Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with electric guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-070864 10-in. 4/15/1942 Raised to my hand Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with electric guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074000 10-in. 1/30/1942 Got to go blues Big Joe and his Rhythm ; Harmon Ray Washboard band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074001 10-in. 1/30/1942 Come over and see me Big Joe and his Rhythm ; Harmon Ray Washboard band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074002 10-in. 1/30/1942 Sleeping by myself Big Joe and his Rhythm ; Harmon Ray Washboard band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074003 10-in. 1/30/1942 Bessie Lee blues Big Joe and his Rhythm ; Harmon Ray Washboard band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074100 10-in. 2/20/1942 Mozelle blues Tommy McClennan Male vocal solo, with guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074101 10-in. 2/20/1942 Blues trip me this morning Tommy McClennan Male vocal solo, with guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074102 10-in. 2/20/1942 Mr. So and So blues Tommy McClennan Male vocal solo, with guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074103 10-in. 2/20/1942 Roll me, baby Tommy McClennan Male vocal solo, with guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074104 10-in. 2/20/1942 I love my baby Tommy McClennan Male vocal solo, with guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 51-75 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Knowling, Ransom," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

Knowling, Ransom. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

"Knowling, Ransom." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 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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