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 126-150 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D5AB-0313 10-in. 2/26/1945 Five feet four Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D5AB-0314 10-in. 2/26/1945 Afraid to trust them Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D5AB-0315 10-in. 2/26/1945 Whiskey head buddies Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D5AB-0338 10-in. 7/2/1945 Elevator woman Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D5AB-0339 10-in. 7/2/1945 G. M. & O. blues Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D5AB-0340 10-in. 7/2/1945 We got to win Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D5AB-0341 10-in. 7/2/1945 Sonny Boy's jump Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1917 10-in. 8/6/1946 Sonny boy's cold chills Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1918 10-in. 8/6/1946 Mean old highway Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1919 10-in. 8/6/1946 Hoodo hoodo Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1920 10-in. 8/6/1946 Shake the boogie Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica, guitar, piano, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1921 10-in. 8/8/1946 I need my baby Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1922 10-in. 8/8/1946 Ain't gonna drink no more Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1923 10-in. 8/8/1946 Angels in Harlem Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1924 10-in. 8/8/1946 Root doctor blues Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1925 10-in. 8/8/1946 Copper colored mama Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1926 10-in. 8/8/1946 Hold that train, conductor Doctor Clayton Male vocal solo, with piano, guitar, and string bass instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1939 10-in. 9/6/1946 You got to reap Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with guitar, bass and drums instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1940 10-in. 9/6/1946 Chicago blues Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with guitar, bass and drums instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1941 10-in. 9/6/1946 Crudup's after hours Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with guitar, bass and drums instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1942 10-in. 9/6/1946 I want my lovin' Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with guitar, bass and drums instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1943 10-in. 9/6/1946 That's all right Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with guitar, bass and drums instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1944 10-in. 9/6/1946 I don't know it Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with guitar, bass and drums instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1949 10-in. 9/18/1946 I'm gonna train my baby Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D6VB-1950 10-in. 9/18/1946 Roll dem bones Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 126-150 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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