KENTUCKY'S DANIEL 'BOSCOE' FRANCE IS CROWNED GUITAR CENTER'S BATTLE OF THE BLUES WINNER FOR 2012
We are excited to announce Daniel "Boscoe" France from Madisonville, KY, as the winner of our Battle of the Blues competition. The search to find the next great undiscovered blues guitarist began in April with over 4,000 aspiring blues guitarists entering to compete in the store preliminaries at 231 Guitar Center locations nationwide. The recent Grand Finals wrapped up the competition with a night full of riveting performances as the top six guitarists vied for the Grand Prize valued at over $50,000.
During the Battle of the Blues final at Club Nokia in Los Angeles, the six talented finalists shared the stage with world-renowned blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa and Grammy Award Winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. John, where the legendary New Orleans "Nite Tripper" and acclaimed guitar virtuoso performed live.
Also in attendance at the grand finals was Grammy Award Winning Producer Pete Anderson, who served on the panel of judges and led the backing band which accompanied the finalists performances. As part of the Grand Prize, France will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to head into the studio for a recording session with Anderson. Other judges on hand included Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and guitar player for The Meters Leo Nocentelli; graduate from the Berklee College of Music and saxophonist for some of the best in the jazz and blues world including Keb' Mo; Mindi Abair; 2009 King of the Blues finalist, lead guitarist for Beth Hart, and guitar player for Shania Twain, Josh Gooch; 2010 King of the Blues winner and 2012 Ameriblues "Best Upcoming Artist, Randy Scott; and editor at Guitar Player magazine plus chair of the Guitar Program at Musicians Institute, Jude Gold.
Egnater Amplification congratulates Boscoe France for winning the 2012 Battle of the Blues!
“Guitar Center’s Battle of the Blues is more than a celebration of the blues guitar, it’s an opportunity to unmask the multitude of undiscovered artists out there,” said Joe Bonamassa, acclaimed blues rock guitarist.
“Each years’ contestants have raised the bar on the level of talent and I’m looking forward to an even higher caliber of competition this year.”
Guitar Center’s Battle of the Blues Grand Prize Package (Valued at more than $50,000) included:
$25,000 Cash
Studio Session with Grammy Award Winning Producer Pete Anderson
Gibson Custom Les Paul ‘59 Reissue or 335 ’59 Reissue (winner’s choice)
Epiphone 1965 Elitist Casino
Egnater Full Stack (winner’s choice of Egnater Head plus two matching cabinets: Renegade, Tourmaster, Vengenance, or Armageddon)
Endorsement Deals from Gibson, Ernie Ball, Boss, Shure, and Egnater
$1,000 in gear from Fret Rest, Road Runner, and Live Wire {winner’s choice}
Shure Artist Package (includes a Shure ULXD14 Digital Wireless Guitar System and Shure 520DX ‘Green Bullet’ Harmonica Microphone)
Feature in Guitar World Magazine
“Battle of the Blues is a great example of Guitar Center’s commitment to providing musicians across the country with the tools and opportunities that enable them to network with a musical community, expose their music to large audiences and attain recognition for their skills,” said Maria Brown, Manager of Music and Entertainment Marketing for Guitar Center.
Guitar Center’s Battles of the Blues was presented by Gibson, Epiphone, Egnater, Ernie Ball, Shure, Boss, Fret Rest, Live Wire, Road Runner, and Guitar World.
Guitar Center Finalists: Where Are They Now
Guitar Center’s Battle of the Blues has a history of changing the lives of its finalists. Hacienda Heights guitarist Randy Scott had hung up his axe for nearly a decade, but at the encouragement of his local Guitar Center rep, he opted to enter the 2010 King of the Blues competition, rather than selling his guitar and closing the door on his passion forever. Scott went on to win the competition, and he now earns a living doing what he loves, crediting Guitar Center for steering him back toward the blues. Blues guitarist Kirby Kelley, the 2009 King of the Blues, is also testimony to Guitar Center’s support of aspiring artists as he was selected to play at the Eric Clapton-curated Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010, where he opened for the legend himself.
About Joe Bonamassa
As Joe Bonamassa grows his reputation as one of the world’s greatest guitar players, he is also evolving into a charismatic blues-rock star and singer-songwriter of stylistic depth and emotional resonance. His new album Driving Towards The Daylight is his “lucky” 13th. It was produced by Kevin Shirley and features special guests including Aerosmith guitarist Brad Whitford. Driving Towards The Daylight is a balanced back-to-basics album that highlights Bonamassa’s signature style of roots blues with rock-and-roll guts, while honoring the traditions of the original blues musicians.
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