Education
After a year at the University of Texas at Austin, Blankenship, in 1947, won a three-year scholarship to study with Mary McCormic at the University of North Texas College of Music, where in 1950 he earned a Bachelor of Music degree. While an undergraduate at North Texas, he sang major opera roles with the school"s Opera Workshop directed by Mary McCormic. After three years in the Air Force (1950–1953), he attended the (1953–1955), studying voice with Mack Harrell and Povla Frijsh.
In 1954, Blankenship was selected by Mary Garden for the National Arts Foundation"s operatic fellowship, which included a $1,200 stipend and promise of engagements in leading opera houses of France and Italy.
Garden, who had auditioned 300 young American singers said that Blankenship was the finest tenor voice she had heard in America.
The fellowship included a tour of study at the Vienna Academy of Music from 1955 to 1956, where he earned an opera diploma.
In 1971, University of North Texas honored Blankenship as a "Distinguished Graduate.".