John Jacob Niles - Dean of American Balladeers
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Artist: John Jacob Niles
Songs: The Gambling Song of the Big Sandy River | Little Black Star | Brother’s Revenge | The Maid Freed From Gallows
CDs: Tradition Years: I Wonder as I Wander [Buy]
Genre: Appalachian bardic folklore
[Info][2][3]
The music of John Jacob Niles fills my mind with pictures and questions. His voice is from another world, singing somewhere between hymn and howl, it breathes real life into his subjects. His song comes from misty peaks and musty cabins. With dirt ingrained in its deftly roving fingers it weaves stories of lords and ladies, of gallows, gambling and lonesome riverside roads, wanderlust, tragedy, and revenge; of tales that were told when old wives were young.
Many of his songs are rooted in Appalachian folklore; forged in the mountains I grew up not terribly far from. He died in the year I was born, having seen many of the same things that I would soon come to know, yet somehow it’s hard to fathom our worlds even being connected.
Living in a place for a long time will almost invariably blunt your appreciation of its special beauty and personality. Listening to those scenes through the songs of John Jacob Niles is like seeing them for the first time. They can be mysterious and enchanting, and they still have secrets to share.
Unfortunately most of his work is not widely available, (just those two cd’s above) so you’ll have to look for online auctions or local record stores, but it’s totally worth it in my opinion.
March 17th, 2006 at 9:04 pm
his wide range, tone changing, vibrating voice makes me think of tim Buckley. the same sensation that the singer is a 1000 years old and yet in front of me, singing with incredible energy.
there is a short clip of JJ Niles in the “no direction home” movie about Bob Dylan, for those who are interested.
March 18th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
Hi Herve,
Haven’t seen that movie, but I will look into it. I have heard many times that Niles was an inspiration of Dylan’s, but never looked into that directly, thanks.
March 20th, 2006 at 9:34 am
I did not know him. His song and the way of his singing are very unique.
I just imagined the person who introduced John Jacob Niles ! You like this kind of songs? The song makes me imagine a guy sitting and singing in a large field~
March 20th, 2006 at 11:26 am
I like various different kinds of songs
I’m willing to give anything a chance if it’s creative or honestly from the heart. This guy, I think, is both.
April 2nd, 2006 at 11:31 pm
Shane! Shane, come back!
April 3rd, 2006 at 10:10 am
By Jupiter, I think I will…