June 24, 1912-October 22, 1967
Not much can be found on the internet about Ransom Knowling, but what there is, well, it’s quite impressive!
It seems he started out playing tuba, violin, and bass in the early 1930s in NOLA, playing on riverboats and with a traveling orchestra. He moved to Chicago in 1937, and ended up playing bass on over 400 recordings, including the original That’s All Right by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup in 1947. That song was covered by Elvis in 1954, helping to start Rock and Roll!
Many other original recordings he has been given credit for include Love Her With A Feeling by Tampa Red, Sonny Boy’s Jump by Sonny Boy Williamson I, I’m So Glad by Memphis Minnie; and as a studio musician for Aristocrat (later Chess), he may have been the unnamed bass player in Muddy Waters first recordings. He played bass with Big Bill Broonzy, Lonnie Johnson, Elmore James, T-Bone Walker, and many many others.
Happy Birthday Ransom Knowling!
Did you know about Mr. Knowling before today? If so, what?