John Jacob Niles

This article is about the composer and singer. For other uses, see John Niles.

John Jacob Niles, singing and playing his large Appalachian dulcimer

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,"[1] Niles was an important influence on the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, with Odetta, Joan Baez, Burl Ives, Peter, Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan, among others, recording his songs.

  1. ^ Scott Whitman, Alchemy Networks. "John Jacob Niles : Folk Singer. Dean of American Balladeers". John-jacob-niles.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2020.