James Niblock was born in Scappoose, Oregon, in November 1, 1917. His musical background included violin study under Franck Eichenlaub of Portland, Oregon, Jascha Brodsky of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Josef Gingold. He died January 3, 2018, in East Lansing, MI.

Niblock received his B.A. and B.Ed. from Washington State University in 1942. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942-1946. He earned his M.A. in violin from Colorado College in 1948 and his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1952. Roy Harris was his primary composition teacher.

Niblock began teaching at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in 1948. He stayed for 37 years, until his retirement in 1985, teaching theory and composition. During his career, he served as chair of the music department for 15 years. He composed over 150 pieces, more than 70 of which were published. Niblock was also Concertmaster of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, a performer in the Beaumont String Quartet, and a composer, performer, and conductor at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He and his wife Helen (1927-2015), who played violin and viola, were frequent performers in the Lansing area. He was also a frequently-commissioned composer for the Verdehr Trio.