Smilin' Billy Blinkhorn

b. 28 December 1914, Nanimo, near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The son of a miner, Blinkhorn had ambitions to be a singer and was playing guitar and singing cowboy songs on local radio at the age of 13. Encouraged by the recordings of Carson Robison and Jimmie Rodgers, he later formed the BC Rangers. Throughout the 30s, his singing and yodelling on CJOR Vancouver and his appearances, with his horse Silver, at countless venues for his show's sponsors Dad's Cookies, gained him a considerable reputation throughout the Province. In 1938, his sponsors opened a branch in Aus...