Clifton's Colin Thompson, 14, proved that his recent guitar-playing victory over 40 other people, mostly adults, was no fluke. He came in first again, last Wednesday, April 26, in the regional competition for the Mid-Atlantic states.
"IT WAS so cool," said his dad, Randy Thompson. "He beat out all these players from Virginia, Delaware and Maryland. He really played well — he blew all the others away. I'm so proud of him."
For coming in first, Colin won a $1,300 Gibson/Les Paul guitar, a $250 gift certificate to the Guitar Center, Levi's shirts and Gibson guitar accessories.
He's a freshman at Robinson Secondary School, and his dad — a professional singer and musician — taught him the basics. But then Colin's own talent kicked in, and he became an accomplished blues guitarist.
On April 4 at the Guitar Center in Fairfax, he won the "Guitarmageddon — King of the Blues" event. Then last week, he trounced 10 other people in the Mid-Atlantic regionals in Rockville, Md. Everyone was older than him, but Colin rose to the occasion and left his competition in the dust.
"He was the only kid in this one, and none of the others were even close to him," said Thompson. "The judges' mouths were hanging open. He went up there and played right in the pocket; he made real music."
Next stop for Colin is the East Coast Championship on May 17 in New York City. The winner goes on to the Guitarmageddon Finals in Chicago in June, vying for a car and the opportunity to perform with legendary blues artist B.B. King.
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs