From Midwest Streets To Vinyl Dreams
I’ve been singing since age two and giving away over a thousand free CDs across the Midwest for fifteen years. In 2012, original songs poured out of me across five original EPs, leading to Henry Gaskins: Greatest Hits, my record today. Professionally re-recorded with a modern edge, my music comes alive exclusively on vinyl to keep authentic, roots-run-deep storytelling alive.
A Certified Gold Mission
My goal is simple: sell 500,000 vinyl records or die trying, showing the world that the American Dream is alive. I keep my album off streaming platforms to honor the craft, donate 20% of sales to charity, and share a 20% commission with anyone who helps me turn this dream into a Gold Record. I also sign and number each record purchased in the order that they are sold, for verification purposes when the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has to do its job.
HENRY GASKINS
Independent Artist And Dream Chaser
I’m a Midwest mutt originally from the outskirts of southwest Houston, but I grew up across Kansas City, Milwaukee, Chicago, Austin, and the vast country lands of North Dakota.
One of my first memories is singing "Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys" at the age of two, and by age four, I was wrecking choreographed stage shows to the general audience's delight. I’ve realized it has become urgent to maintain a sense of commitment in every aspect of my life—taking nothing for granted and continuing in each direction one step at a time. It's always been my plan to be a singer-songwriter, but it wasn't until 2012 that my original music started pouring out of me.
I almost didn't have a choice. The songs just started developing naturally, and I felt like I was going to die if I held them back. I used to burn my music onto CDs and give them away for free, handing out more than a thousand over the course of 15 years. I've given them to friends, family, co-workers, people in the streets, folks at bars, government workers, business owners, celebrities, and just about everyone else I've come across.
I’ve also been a part of several different bands, peaking with "Henry and the Hens" back in North Dakota. Since then, I’ve reformatted and re-recorded my music with a more structured and modern sound. I'm producing it exclusively on vinyl and selling each record for $25 apiece. My goal now is to sell 500,000 records or die trying. You can always buy a record directly from me in person—unless, of course, I'm right in the middle of performing a set live.
My Greatest Hits album will not be available on iTunes or Spotify until the record is certified gold with 500,000 copies sold.
This "About Me" section, along with my whole website in general, will continue to be detailed and modified throughout my life — and shortly thereafter, with a few departing posts lined up as permanent fixtures after I'm gone. With that said, I take nothing for granted. Thanks for reading, listening, encouraging, inspiring, and motivating, not just me but the world around us all.