NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Middle Tennessee tour bus company was featured in Forbes after one of the owners recently got to follow one of his lifelong dreams.

The article focuses on Eric Blankenship’s start in the industry and how he got into the tour bus business and made his music dream come true.

In 1992, Forbes said Blankenship moved to Nashville to follow his dream of performing. Within six months after moving to the Music City, he got a job selling shirts for Ricky Skaggs.

“That’s when I went on the road for the first time with a major act on a bus,” Blankenship told Forbes.

Afterwards he got his license, so he could help drive.

“I loved buses,” Blankenship told Forbes. “And [I] couldn’t wait to get one on my own.”

Blankenship also sold merchandise and drove for Tim McGraw, Lari White and others while all trying to pursue singing.

Forbes said Blankenship eventually came back to Nashville to focus on his own music when he ended up getting a job with Music City Coach.

About four years later, he and Jim Borelli started “All Access Coach Leasing” in Gallatin.

The company provides entertainer tour transportation and has helped drive some of the country music industry’s most successful tours including Luke Combs, Martina McBride, Jason Aldean, Allison Krauss, George Strait and more.

With nearly 40 buses, All Access Coach Leasing has one of the largest fleet of tour buses for artists based in Nashville, Memphis, Lexington, Atlanta, Boston, New York, Oklahoma City and other major cities.

According to Forbes, Blankenship and Borelli buy bus shells with only the driver’s seat and then add everything else

Blankenship told Forbes a band bus can cost about $1.2 million whereas a star’s bus could range anywhere from $1.5 million to $2.5 million depending on what the client wants.

A star bus may have more requirements like a bedroom in the back, bigger refrigerators, washers and dryers.

Since starting his business, Blankenship told Forbes he often runs into artists and musicians through his business.

During one of the meetings in January, Blankship shared a personal goal with Ben Isaacs of The Isaacs.

“I told him if I could do one thing, I’d love to play the Grand Ole Opry just one time while my dad could still see me perform,” Blankenship told Forbes. “My dad’s 84 and he and my mom funneled so much money trying to get me a record deal from the time I was a kid.

A few months later, Blankenship got an invitation from Isaacs.

“He said, ‘What are you doing on April 29? How would you like to debut with us on the Grand Ole Opry?’” Blankenship said.

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That night, at the end of April, Blankenship was able to step onto the “most iconic stage in country music” performing the country classic, “Statue of a Fool” while the Isaacs sang back-up and his father sat in the front row.

“It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever done,” Blankenship told Forbes. “It really, really was. I wasn’t nervous but I was so anxious, it was like being on a cloud. I was out there on the stage singing but it was almost like I was watching myself, you know? The band was great and the Isaacs were amazing.”

After his performance, Forbes said Blankenship got a standing ovation.

“You just don’t walk up there and get on the Opry. It was quite the night,” Blankenship told Forbes.

Forbes reported that since his performance, he got his first ASCAP royalty check for a song he wrote.

Blankenship also recently went back to his hometown in Bonham, Texas, to open for Gene Watson, and in October, Forbes said he will open a show for the Oak Ridge Boys.

“When I left Texas for Nashville, I was determined to be successful in the music business, never dreaming it would be on the business side of things,” Blankenship told Forbes. “But now, buses pay my bills, so I can play music without having to worry about making a living doing it. It’s given me the freedom to just go out and play.”

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