Slideshow: King of the Blues

Gary Tipton of Garden Grove was crowned King of the Blues for Fountain Valley's Guitar Center location Thursday night as part of the music chain's annual blues guitar competition.

Tipton beat out five other finalists playing a custom guitar crafter by his son, and will move on to compete in the district finals, which will also be held at the Fountain Valley Guitar Center location on June 23.

Contestants are trying to further their quest to be one five finalists at the King of the Blues finals at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, where they will perform for a panel of celebrity judges, playing alongside guitar titan Warren Haynes. At the King of the Blues finals they will compete for more than $50,000 in prizes, including studio time with Grammy Award-winning producer Pete Anderson.