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 176-200 of 268 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D7VB-1062 10-in. 10/7/1947 Hoodoo lady blues Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1063 10-in. 10/7/1947 Lonesome world to me Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1064 10-in. 10/7/1947 Roberta blues Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1065 10-in. 10/7/1947 Just like a spider Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance trio instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1066 10-in. 10/7/1947 Someday Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1067 10-in. 10/7/1947 That's why I'm lonesome Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with guitar, string bass, and drums instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1115 10-in. 10/31/1947 Keep jumping Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1117 10-in. 10/31/1947 Roaming and rambling Tampa Red Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1132 10-in. 11/4/1947 She's just my size Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1133 10-in. 11/4/1947 You know how I feel Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1134 10-in. 11/4/1947 Fool about that woman Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1135 10-in. 11/4/1947 Dollar is your best friend Washboard Band (Washboard Sam) Male vocal solo, with washboard band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1145 10-in. 11/10/1947 What a gal Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1146 10-in. 11/10/1947 Signifying woman Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1147 10-in. 11/10/1947 The devil blues Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1148 10-in. 11/10/1947 Jazz Gillum's blues Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1149 10-in. 11/12/1947 Little girl Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1150 10-in. 11/12/1947 Blues about my baby Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1152 10-in. 11/12/1947 I love you for myself Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1153 10-in. 11/12/1947 Bring another half a pint Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1154 10-in. 11/12/1947 Southern dream Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with harmonica and jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1155 10-in. 11/12/1947 Rub-a-Dub Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1156 10-in. 11/12/1947 Better cut that out Sonny Boy Williamson Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1170 10-in. 11/18/1947 Boogie honky tonky Original Honeydrippers ; Roosevelt Sykes Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1171 10-in. 11/18/1947 Booze blues Original Honeydrippers ; Roosevelt Sykes Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 176-200 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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