George J. Gaskin (February 1863 – December 14, 1920) was one of the most popular singers in the United States during the 1890s and an early American recording artist.

Biography

Gaskin was born in Belfast, Ireland, but migrated to the United States in his youth. According to US Naturalization records, Gaskin arrived in New York City in June 1880 but did not attain citizenship until October 18, 1892. At that time he gave his address as 109 East 102nd Street. Gaskin's earliest known recordings were done for the Edison North American Phonograph Company on June 2, 1891. He may have been only the second vocalist to make commercial records for Edison (the first may have been African American whistler and singer George W. Johnson, recorded just one day earlier, on June 1). He was nicknamed the "Silver-voiced Irish tenor", and specialized in sentimental Irish ballads and the popular songs of tin pan alley. He recorded prolifically in the 1890s, for the

United States Phonograph Company ] The United States Phonograph Company was a manufacturer of cylinder phonograph records and supplies in the 1890s. It was formed in the Spring of 1893 by Victor Emerson, manager of the New Jersey Phonograph Company. Simon S. Ott and George E. Te ...

, Columbia Phonograph Company, and Berliner Gramophone. Except for one US Everlasting cylinder in 1910 and a single side for the American

Pathé Pathé or Pathé Frères (, styled as PATHÉ!) is the name of various French people, French businesses that were founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France starting in 1896. In the early 1900s, Pathé became the world's largest ...

company in 1916, Gaskin's recording career ended in 1904 for reasons unknown. Between 1904 and 1910, he directed the annual Robert Emmett tribute concert for the Phillip Sheridan club, an Irish-American society, held in Passaic, NJ. He died in New York on December 14, 1920. His repertoire included "

Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill "Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill" is an American folk song first published in 1888 and attributed to Thomas Casey (words) and later Charles Connolly (music). The song is a work song, and makes references to the construction of the American railroads in t ...

" (1891), "

Oh Promise Me Oh Promise Me is a song with music by Reginald De Koven and lyrics by Clement Scott. The song was written in 1887 and first published in 1889 by G. Schirmer, Inc. as an art song. De Koven may have based the melody partly on a song composed by St ...

" (1893), " After the Ball" (1893), " The Sidewalks of New York", (1895), " A Hot Time in the Old Town" (1896), "

On the Banks of the Wabash "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" was among the best-selling songs of the 19th century, earning over $100,000 from sheet-music revenues. Written and composed by American songwriter Paul Dresser, it was published by the Tin Pan Alley f ...

" (1897), and "

When You Were Sweet Sixteen "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" is a popular song, written by James Thornton and published in 1898. Inspired and sung by the composer's wife, the ballad quickly became a hit song in vaudeville. It has a long recording history that includes numerous ...

" (1900).

Recordings

His extant recordings include: *"Drill Ye Tarriers Drill" (Released on June 2, 1891) *" After the Ball" (1893) *"I Don't Want to Play in Your Yard" (1895) *"The Sidewalks of New York" (1895) *" All Coons Look Alike to Me" (1896) *"Scanlan's Swing Song" (1896) *"She May Have Seen Better Days" (1896) *"It Don't Seem Like the Same Old Smile" (1897) *"Sweet Rosie O'Grady" (1897) *"The Best in the House is None Too Good For Reilly" (1897) *"Yankee Doodle" (1897) *"America" (1898) *"

My Old New Hampshire Home "My Old New Hampshire Home" is an 1898 song that was the first popular hit of composer Harry Von Tilzer, with lyrics by Andrew B. Sterling. In 1898, Von Tilzer and Sterling were sharing a rented furnished room in New York City on Fifteenth Stree ...

" (1898) *"She Was Bred In Old Kentucky" (1898) *"Uncle Sam, Why Are You Waiting?" (1898) *"Drill Ye Tarriers Drill" (1899) *" Old Folks at Home" (1899) *"What is Home Without Love" (1899) *"Mavourneen" (1890s) *"Just Say Goodbye Again" (1890s) *"Whisper Your Mother's Name" (1896–1900) *"Killarney" (1900) *"While the Band is Playing Dixie" (1901) *"When the Harvest Days Are Over" (1902) *"I'm Wearing My Heart Away for You" (1903) *"The Bassoon" (1903) *"If A Girl Like You Loved A Boy Like Me" (1905) *"Sally in Our Alley" (1905)

References

External links

Tinfoil.com

Archeophone Records

George J. Gaskin recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Gaskin, George J. 1863 births 1920 deaths American male pop singers Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923) Pioneer recording artists Musicians from Belfast 19th-century American male singers 19th-century American singers