BINGHAMTON – A Norwich guitarist took first place in the “King of the Blues” competition sponsored by the Guitar Center in Binghamton last week and will now travel to Brooklyn for a chance to win the district title.

Brian Golden beat out nine other professional players to win the two-round competition held in Binghamton.

Musicians from all across the country have been competing at the 214 different Guitar Center locations in a bid to win an all-expense paid trip to the national championship in Los Angeles and compete for the $25,000 grand prize.

The 32-year-old Norwich native is now two competitions away from reaching his goal. The contest has already seen the elimination of 1,926 guitar players, meaning Golden has beat out more than 90 percent of those who began participating a month ago in the nationwide search for guitar’s King of Blues.

“I just can’t believe I’ve made it this far,” said the modest musician.

Golden has been the lead guitarist and vocalist in the soul funk blues band, Badweather Blues, for the last six years, traveling all across the Southern Tier to headline at local events.