William Knabe was educated at the University of Tennessee (1878–83) and read law. In 1899 Charles Perciful Garrett, who was in charge of all music activities, asked President Dabney to be relieved of responsibility for the military band. Dabney agreed, and appointed Knabe bandmaster of the Battalion of Cadets of the University of Tennessee at a monthly salary of $35 for ten months, beginning September 20, 1899. The duties enumerated by Dabney were as follows: “Direct and lead the military band under the supervision and orders of the Commandant of Cadets, A.H. Nave. You will be expected to give all the individual and collective instruction that is required to train the members and make us a first rate military band; to lead and command the band on all military occasions as ordered by the Commandant; and to train the members as well as possible for suitable appearance in the University processions, ceremonials, and public occasions, such as University Day and Commencement.” Knabe served as bandmaster until his death in 1914.
During the Spanish-American War, he was chief musician and bandmaster in Company A of the Fourth Regiment of the Tennessee Volunteers. He was elected to Knox County Court in 1894 and served for 20 years, and he served as justice of the peace. He instructed at the UT College of Law in the practice of the magistrate’s court and was an extremely popular faculty member. Upon his death Saturday classes were suspended at the Law College as an act of mourning. He was the son of Gustav Knabe, who preceded him as bandmaster and music professor at UT, and a dirge composed by his late father was played at his funeral by a large band.