Biography
Born on 28 December 1914 in Nanimo near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Blinkhorn grew up the son of a miner. Aspiring to a singing career, he began strumming guitar and delivering cowboy songs over local radio by the age of thirteen. Recordings by Carson Robison and Jimmie Rodgers spurred him to assemble the BC Rangers.
Throughout the 1930s he built a substantial following across the province by singing and yodelling on CJOR Vancouver and by appearing, accompanied by his horse Silver, at numerous venues on behalf of the show’s sponsors Dad’s Cookies. When those sponsors opened an Australian branch in 1938, Blinkhorn—still unable to obtain a Canadian recording contract—accepted their suggestion that he try his fortunes in Australia, where competition was milder. He soon became a regular presence on Australian radio and in live performances.
On 27 October 1939 he cut his first six sides for Regal Zonophone Records, accompanying himself on guitar alone; a second session of six titles followed in July 1940. World War II halted his progress, sending him into military service in New Guinea and the Philippines, where his command of Japanese led to work as an interpreter.
In 1947, now backed by a group, he returned to the studio and recorded further material, among them his noted version of “Sunny Queensland.” He continued performing for a few years before interest apparently faded. After marrying, he settled in Sydney and later took employment with the University of New South Wales.
His final recordings, made for Fidelity in the early 1950s, included several square dance discs on which he demonstrated his ability as a caller—an art he had acquired as a boy in Canada. Arterial disease cost him a leg in 1974, yet he recovered and soon resumed his customary cheerful outlook.
Throughout the 1930s he built a substantial following across the province by singing and yodelling on CJOR Vancouver and by appearing, accompanied by his horse Silver, at numerous venues on behalf of the show’s sponsors Dad’s Cookies. When those sponsors opened an Australian branch in 1938, Blinkhorn—still unable to obtain a Canadian recording contract—accepted their suggestion that he try his fortunes in Australia, where competition was milder. He soon became a regular presence on Australian radio and in live performances.
On 27 October 1939 he cut his first six sides for Regal Zonophone Records, accompanying himself on guitar alone; a second session of six titles followed in July 1940. World War II halted his progress, sending him into military service in New Guinea and the Philippines, where his command of Japanese led to work as an interpreter.
In 1947, now backed by a group, he returned to the studio and recorded further material, among them his noted version of “Sunny Queensland.” He continued performing for a few years before interest apparently faded. After marrying, he settled in Sydney and later took employment with the University of New South Wales.
His final recordings, made for Fidelity in the early 1950s, included several square dance discs on which he demonstrated his ability as a caller—an art he had acquired as a boy in Canada. Arterial disease cost him a leg in 1974, yet he recovered and soon resumed his customary cheerful outlook.