John Jacob Niles

John Jacob Niles (April 28, 1892 – March 1, 1980) was an American composer, singer, and collector of traditional ballads. Called the "Dean of American Balladeers", Niles was an important influence on the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, with Joan Baez, Burl Ives, Peter, Paul and Mary, and Bob Dylan, among others, recording his songs.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 28, 1892 (Louisville), Died March 1, 1980 (Lexington)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1940

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor vocal, arranger, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-035798 10-in. 4/25/1939 The Gypsy laddie (Child ballad no. 200) John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-035799 10-in. 4/25/1939 The ballad of Barberry Ellen (Child ballad no. 84) John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036800 10-in. 4/25/1939 The ballad of Barberry Ellen (Child ballad no. 84) John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor CS-036801 12-in. 4/25/1939 Little Mattie Groves (Child ballad no. 81) John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor CS-036802 12-in. 4/25/1939 Little Mattie Groves (Child ballad no. 81) John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036803 10-in. 4/25/1939 I wonder as I wander out under the sky John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036804 10-in. 4/25/1939 Jesus, Jesus, rest Your head John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036805 10-in. 4/25/1939 The cuckoo John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036806 10-in. 4/25/1939 Black is the color of my true love's hair John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036811 10-in. 4/26/1939 Go 'way from my window (A folk love song) John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036812 10-in. 4/26/1939 That lonesome road John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036813 10-in. 4/26/1939 The lass from the Low Countree John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036814 10-in. 4/26/1939 Lulle lullay (The Coventry carol) John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036815 10-in. 4/26/1939 The two sisters, or the old lord by the North Sea John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036816 10-in. 4/26/1939 The two sisters, or the old lord by the North Sea John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036817 10-in. 4/26/1939 The seven joys of Mary John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036818 10-in. 4/26/1939 The seven joys of Mary John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036819 10-in. 4/26/1939 The frog went courting John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036820 10-in. 4/26/1939 Jack o'diamonds John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036821 10-in. 4/26/1939 John Henry John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with piano vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036822 10-in. 4/26/1939 My little Mohee John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Victor BS-036824 10-in. 4/26/1939 You got to cross that lonesome valley John Jacob Niles Male vocal solo, with dulcimer vocalist, tenor vocal, arranger  
Columbia W140656 10-in. 6/6/1925 The rovin' gambler Al Craver Male vocal solo, with guitar composer  
Brunswick E15910-E15911 10-in. 5/29/1925 The rovin' gambler Vernon Dalhart Male vocal solo, with viola and guitar composer  
Brunswick 1450W-1452W 10-in. 10/14/1925 Rovin' gambler George Reneau Male vocal solo, with guitar and harmonica composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Niles, John Jacob," accessed February 4, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102494.

Niles, John Jacob. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved February 4, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102494.

"Niles, John Jacob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 4 February 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102494

External Sources

Wikipedia: John Jacob Niles

Discogs: John Jacob Niles

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Niles, John Jacob, 1892-1980 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n79094608

Wikidata: John Jacob Niles - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q4312433

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/116271864

MusicBrainz: John Jacob Niles - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/8c8f9dac-47fd-4f83-a54d-87137cf2bed3

ISNI: 0000 0001 0788 2390 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000107882390

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