Sold Out: From Music to Politics

As he was driving down the Virginia highway in his pick up truck, listening to K92, a song of passion blared from the stereo and struck a chord in his heart. After the song, “My Favorite Dream” by artist Tanner Blankenship finished playing, this middle-aged man continued listening with tears streaming down his face.

Once the song came to its end, Blankenship was asked to discuss his inspiration to write such a song. After the horrific shootings at Virginia Tech (VT) in April 2007, he began forming lyrics to this song. Growing up in the nearby area of Dublin, Va., this tragic news hit home with Blankenship, and he wanted to dedicate his newly produced song to the families and victims of the VT shootings.

He continued to mention how God was his ultimate inspiration for all of his music. Although he did not spend the entire interview talking about God, he did hit on it for a few moments. As Blankenship was speaking, the man in the truck was touched by what he had said.

The next day Blankenship received a e-mail from the man explaining that he felt God while he was talking and felt led to turn his life around. Blankenship uses his music ministry with the purpose of glorifying his Lord.

“My greatest desire is to be with you. So take me as I am, I am yours. And though I’m just a man I’ll give what I have,” Blankenship’s lyrics to his song “As I Am” said. “And though I’m helplessly and worthlessly, and nothing on my own, you love me. You can use me Lord.”

These lyrics portray his constant desire to be used by God and give all he has to him. Blankenship has been involved with music ever since he can remember, starting with doing worship at his church, Pulaski Church of God, and first learning to play guitar around 9 or 10 years old.

His 10-song CD consists of songs about helping hurting people, hope and the loving grace of God. Initially Blakenship didn’t intend to create a c.d., but after about a year he realized he had written enough songs to create one. So he produced his CD “Fallen” in his home studio named Follow Hard.

“I love the song “Ocean” because I just think it is a good song and it’s the most fun to play. Although I would have to say the one that meant the most was “Fallen” Blankenship said.

The song came to him suddenly one morning as he woke up. It was at a time in his life where, even though he became a Christian at a young age, he had gotten into some things he was not proud of. Blankenship said he was living in the world and did not care about people or God because he was living selfishly. He was sick of his worldly lifestyle and had reached the end of his rope, according to Blankenship.

“I wanted a change in my life so much and it’s probably one of the most remarkable songs I have ever written because it just popped in my head instantly one morning,” Blankenship said. “I wrote the whole song in 10 minutes, and it turned out to be a great one about how God had never left me.”

Blankenship has since has the opportunity to share his songs with diverse audiences. December Radio, Casting Crowns and Sarah Reeves are a couple known artists he has performed alongside. His CD, “Fallen,” is available for $10 at his shows or by contacting him at followhard@verizon.net.

Ranging from Autumn Fest to Camp Jeep, where Tim McGraw also played and there were thousands in attendance, Blankenship has also performed at local bowling alleys, coffee shops and churches. He even performed at a Liberty open mic night.

Graduating with a degree in Advertising/Public Relations from Liberty in December 2008, he also received an associate degree in education from New River Community College. Blankenship is currently taking online courses at Biola University to receive his master’s in Christian apologetics, while also working as a teacher’s assistant at Pulaski Middle School.

It was not his initial plan to pursue a degree in Advertising/Public Relations, but after taking some Visual Communication (VCAR) classes and talking with others, Blankenship felt God guiding him in that direction. He has used what he learned from this degree to aid in advertising different things and to promote his music.

Using this degree, he has worked on web design and has developed his own site for his ministry, followhard.com. Here he displays articles he has written on music, faith and politics.

Blankenship’s interest in advertising also led for him to complete advertising work for The Patriot, Pulaski County paper with a circulation of 4,000 readers. Through volunteering he was able to write articles the editors assigned to him, which eventually led to his interest in writing about faith-based and political topics.

“I learned it’s important to volunteer places for a while because that can always lead to something else. I always encourage people to put their foot in the door with volunteering,” Blankenship said.

With his interest in politics, which Blankenship says may have come from being at Liberty, and music ministry he hopes to spend the rest of his life making a difference in some way. As he is pursuing his Master’s in Christian apologetics, he says he would love to be part of starting a church or possibly going into politics.

Standing up for his faith and being involved in political issues that he has a strong voice in, such as abortion, is important to Blankenship. He would love to possibly incorporate this into his music ministry and write songs that speak of such issues.

“It’s so hard to tell what I will be doing years from now, but I want to be making a big difference in whatever I am doing. If I could do something with music or politics I would be happy as long as I am impacting someone’s life,” Blankenship said. “I can do that with anything I’m doing, but my heart is making a difference and ministering to people.”