Download or read book The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles written by John Jacob Niles and published by University Press of Kentucky. This book was released on 2021-12-14 with total page 702 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A legend in the folk music community, John Jacob Niles enjoyed a lengthy career as a balladeer, folk collector, and songwriter. Ever close to his Kentucky roots, he spent much of his adulthood searching for the most well-loved songs of the southern Appalachia. The Ballad Book of John Jacob Niles brings together a wealth of songs with the stories that inspired them, arranged by a gifted performer. This new edition includes all of the melodies, text, commentary, and illustrations of the 1961 original and features a new introduction by Ron Pen, director of the John Jacob Niles Center for American Music at the University of Kentucky.