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Westlake Village, CA, April 1, 2010 - Continuing its support of aspiring artists, Guitar Center the world's largest musical instrument retailer, today announced the launch of its fourth annual King of the Blues the nationwide search for the next great undiscovered blues guitar player. Starting today, guitarists can sign-up at any of Guitar Center's 214 stores across the country for the chance to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and the opportunity to perform at the King of the Blues finals at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, and play on the same stage as Grammy Award-winning guitarist Derek Trucks. All store, district and regional finalists will win impressive prize packages including top gear from Gibson, Epiphone, Ernie Ball, Egnater and Boss. The guitarist crowned Guitar Center's King of the Blues will receive $25,000 cash, endorsement deals form Gibson, Ernie Ball, Boss, and Egnater and more!

Local competitions will be held at each of the 214 Guitar Center locations nationwide, beginning May 13th. Each contestant will be required to give a live guitar solo, performed over one of thirty original backing tracks, developed by Grammy Award-winning producer/guitarist, Pete Anderson. One winner from each store will be chosen to move up to district competitions (25 locations), followed by regionally hosted semi-finals (5 locations), which culminate in the aforementioned King of the Blues finals competition on September 2nd. Here, the five finalists will perform in front of a live audience and a panel of celebrity judges, and share the stage with world-renowned guitarist Derek Trucks, leader of the Grammy Award-winning Derek Trucks Band and member of The Allman Brothers Band. Trucks' extensive list of accolades and accomplishments includes being tapped by Eric Clapton to join the guitar legend's 2006/07 world tour as a featured soloist and appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone's "New Guitar Gods" issue, as well as being the youngest musician to make the magazine's "100 Greatest Guitar Players of All Time."  More info ...

All guitar players, musicians, blues fans, or general music fans are invited to a Benefit for Bobby Alexis to be held at the Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club in Houston Texas on Sunday April 11. From 2:00 till at least 7:00 you will have the opportunity to see and hear some of the finest Blues musicians in Houston performing in honor of long time Albert Collins Keyboard man, Bobby Alexis.

Bobby passed away recently. He toured with Albert for over 20 years. He also played and toured with Bo Diddly, BB King, Freddie King, Guitar Shorty and many others in the professional Blues world. Bobby used Fender amps when he played live and recorded with Albert Collins and up to the time of his death. Bobby can be heard and seen on the recent Albert Collins DVD releases and appeared on most of the Albert Collins recordings over the years.

The above benefit will be for his family and is open to anyone that wishes to attend and honor his memory and music. It is expected that the line up will include Texas Johnny Brown, Trudy Lynn, Little Stanley and the Executives, Mojofromopolis, Lady D, and many other old school Houston BLUES musicians.

Bobby got his start with the Duke and Peacock record labels in Houston and was playing with Albert Collins when he was rediscovered by Canned Heat in the 3rd ward of Houston in the 60's.

These types of events USUALLY turn into a jam at the end so bring your instruments, just in case.