Mr. Sipp, known as “The Mississippi Blues Child,” was awarded with top honors at the 30th International Blues Challenge on Saturday.
The world’s largest gathering of blues acts concluded its five-day run on Beale Street in downtown Memphis at the Orpheum Theatre. The event consisted of 255 acts, representing 40 states and 16 countries.
The McComb native, who has been claimed by the Vicksburg blues community, won the first place in the Band Division. Mr. Sipp also received the Gibson Guitarist Award.
Shirley Waring, president of the Vicksburg Blues Society, was impressed with Mr. Sipp’s representation of the group.
“Winning the IBC puts Vicksburg and Mississippi in the international spotlight,” Waring said. “The event drew over 10,000 fans this year, and now they all know and love Mr. Sipp. This is a major accomplishment for our program of work in building Vicksburg as a great destination. Mr. Sipp is world-class entertainment.”
The guitarist will perform Friday and Saturday at Ameristar Casino’s Bottleneck Blues Bar as part of the ongoing Heritage Music Series presented by the blues society. Shows start at 9 p.m., according to the casino’s website.