About JP Soars ~New official page~

History was made on February 7, 2009 at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, Tennessee, as J.P. SOARS & THE RED HOTS took the Blues world by storm by winning the coveted 25th annual International Blues Challenge (IBC). With the mission to find the best unsigned blues band, the annual IBC competition is held worldwide on a regional level by The Blues Foundation's 150 affiliated organizations around the world. A record number of 164 bands and solo/duo acts from blues societies around the world took the stages of Memphis’ legendary Beale Street on Thursday and Friday of the 2009 International Blues Challenge to compete for over $20,000 in cash and prizes. Acts from all over the world performed before notable blues industry judges in hopes of making the finals on Saturday, drawing an audience of many thousands to Beale Street in downtown Memphis. When the dust cleared, J.P. Soars & the Red Hots (J.P SOARS on guitars & vocals, CHRIS PEET on drums, and GARY RIMMINGTON on bass), sponsored by and representing the South Florida Blues Society, took first place and the title, becoming THE BEST UNSIGNED BLUES ACT IN THE WORLD! J.P. Soars also individually won the Albert King Award, which establishes him as the best guitar player in the competition this year. It includes a plaque, a beautiful White Gibson Custom Les Paul guitar and a Category 5 Amp.