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 201-225 of 270 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor D7VB-1172 10-in. 11/18/1947 Time wasted on you Original Honeydrippers ; Roosevelt Sykes Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1174 10-in. 11/18/1947 Until the cows come home Original Honeydrippers ; Roosevelt Sykes Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1175 10-in. 11/18/1947 High as a Georgia pine Original Honeydrippers ; Roosevelt Sykes Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-1176 10-in. 11/18/1947 I know how you feel Original Honeydrippers ; Roosevelt Sykes Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2362 10-in. 12/10/1947 Farewell, little girl Dr. Clayton's Buddy Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2363 10-in. 12/10/1947 Broke and hungry Dr. Clayton's Buddy Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2364 10-in. 12/10/1947 Illinois central Dr. Clayton's Buddy Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2365 10-in. 12/10/1947 Nappy head woman Dr. Clayton's Buddy Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2390 10-in. 12/31/1947 Across the hall blues Dr. Clayton's Buddy Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2391 10-in. 12/31/1947 Walking with the blues Dr. Clayton's Buddy Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2392 10-in. 12/31/1947 Sweet Lucy blues Dr. Clayton's Buddy Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D7VB-2393 10-in. 12/31/1947 No whiskey blues Dr. Clayton's Buddy Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D8VB-3260 10-in. 12/24/1948 What makes these things happen to me Eddie Boyd ; Little Eddie Boyd Trio Male vocal solo with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D8VB-3261 10-in. 12/24/1948 Baby, what's wrong with you Eddie Boyd ; Little Eddie Boyd Trio Male vocal solo with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D8VB-3262 10-in. 12/24/1948 Chicago is just that way Eddie Boyd ; Little Eddie Boyd Trio Male vocal solo with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D8VB-3263 10-in. 12/24/1948 Eddie's blues Eddie Boyd ; Little Eddie Boyd Trio Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0344 10-in. 1/25/1949 Gonna be some shootin' Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0346 10-in. 1/25/1949 A lie is dangerous Jazz Gillum Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0353 10-in. 1/26/1949 Casey Brown blues Guitar Pete Franklin Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0356 10-in. 1/26/1949 Down behind the rise Guitar Pete Franklin Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0388 10-in. 2/25/1949 No. 1 drunkard Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0389 10-in. 2/25/1949 I'm just tired Washboard Sam Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0390 10-in. 2/25/1949 Maybe you'll love me Washboard Sam Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0391 10-in. 2/25/1949 Nothing in rambling Washboard Sam Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, string bass  
Victor D9VB-0418 10-in. 3/10/1949 Tired of worry Arthur Crudup Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 201-225 of 270 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Knowling, Ransom," accessed June 1, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

Knowling, Ransom. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved June 1, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/105976.

"Knowling, Ransom." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 June 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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