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 76-100 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-074105 10-in. 2/20/1942 Shake it up and go Tommy McClennan Male vocal solo, with guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074106 10-in. 2/20/1942 Blue as I can be Tommy McClennan Male vocal solo, with guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074107 10-in. 2/20/1942 Bluebird blues Tommy McClennan Male vocal solo, with guitar and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074166 10-in. 3/27/1942 Honey stealin' blues Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, tuba  
Victor BS-074167 10-in. 3/27/1942 My own blues Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, tuba  
Victor BS-074168 10-in. 3/27/1942 On the killin' floor Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, tuba  
Victor BS-074169 10-in. 3/27/1942 Moonshine women blues Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, tuba  
Victor BS-074170 10-in. 3/27/1942 Pearl Harbor blues Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, tuba  
Victor BS-074171 10-in. 3/27/1942 Ain't no business we can do Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, tuba  
Victor BS-074682 10-in. 7/31/1942 Don't have to sing the blues Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074683 10-in. 7/31/1942 Red River Dam blues Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074684 10-in. 7/31/1942 Down South woman blues Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074685 10-in. 7/31/1942 Ain't that a shame Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074686 10-in. 7/31/1942 I laid my cards on the table Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor BS-074687 10-in. 7/31/1942 I get the blues at bedtime Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor E0VB-3394 10-in. 3/7/1950 1950 blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor E0VB-3395 10-in. 3/7/1950 It's good like that Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor E0VB-3396 10-in. 3/7/1950 Love her with a feelin' Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor E0VB-3397 10-in. 3/7/1950 New deal blues Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor E0VB-3428 10-in. 3/23/1950 Mean old Santa Fe Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor E0VB-3429 10-in. 3/23/1950 Behind closed doors Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor E0VB-3430 10-in. 3/23/1950 She ain't nothing but trouble Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor E0VB-3431 10-in. 3/23/1950 Oo wee darling (love me with a thrill) Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D4AB-339 10-in. 12/15/1944 Lula Mae Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor E0VB-4564 10-in. 11/7/1950 Midnight boogie Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 76-100 of 268 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Knowling, Ransom," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

Knowling, Ransom. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

"Knowling, Ransom." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 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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