TAHLEQUAH — As a child growing up in Locust Grove, Doug Bryant soaked up guitar lessons like a sponge.

Today, he’s one of 25 semi-finalists in Guitar Center’s King of Blues talent search, competing for $25,000 cash, endorsements from Gibson, Ernie Ball, Boss and Egnater, and a feature in Guitar World magazine.

“I started playing the guitar when I was 10,” said Bryant. “My dad was the one who taught me how to play. He brought me an inexpensive guitar at an auction, then when he saw I had a real interest, he bought me a better one for Christmas.”

Bryant lived with his grandparents, and saw his father on weekends. The pair used the time to work on Bryant’s guitar skills.

“My dad used to write guitar chords down on paper for me,” he said. “Bit by bit, he ran out of paper and things to show me. From then on, I learned on my own by practicing and watching other musicians play.”

Today, Bryant plays in the gospel band Visionary, with his brother, Paul Carey, on drums, and his wife, Tonya, who sings. The band has been together for almost 10 years, playing gospel singings and other inspirational events.

“We’ve played at Kingdom Rock Fest near Michigan,” said Bryant. “I’m also in charge of the gospel singing for the Cherokee National Holiday. We’ve opened for the bands Cutlass, Pillar, and Salvador, along with lots of others.”

Like most musicians, Bryant has a full-time day job. He can be spotted on the Sequoyah Schools campus in the summertime, mowing the vast expanse of lawn.

Bryant enjoys his work.

“I get a lot of inspiration when I’m mowing,” said Bryant. “When I’m out there by myself, I can think about a lot of things: music, my next sermon, lots of things.”

Bryant, a traveling evangelist, also speaks and plays for any number of churches in the area.

He got involved with the Guitar Center King of Blues contest at its inception four years ago, on a lark.

“Actually, I thought it would be fun to go and meet other musicians,” he said. “To me, it’s just another place to play. I’m not really competing when I go, it’s just fun.”

The competition is multi-tiered, and this is the first time he’s gotten to the semi-finalist round.

“I was very surprised I got so far in this year’s contest,” he said. “But to advance to the district and to win that – well, it was pretty cool. That happened on June 28, and from there, I advance to a semi-final. If I do well in that one, I’ll go back to Dallas one more time for the finals.”

According to a Guitar Center press release, Local King of Blues competitions were held at Guitar Centers nationwide beginning May 13. Each contestant was required to give a live solo, performed over one of 30 original backing tracks developed by Grammy Award-winning producer and guitarist Pete Anderson.

One winner from each store was chosen to move up to district competition in 25 locations, and one winner was chosen from each to compete in the regionally hosted semi-finals in five locations. For Bryant, this means another trip to Dallas on July 15, where he will perform in front of a panel of judges.

The semi-final competitions will culminate in the King of the Blues finals competition, Sept. 2 at the House of Blues Los Angeles.

Here, the five finalists will perform in front of a live audience and a panel of celebrity judges, and share the stage with world-renowned guitarist Derek Trucks, member of the Allman Brothers Band.

The winner will also receive $25,000 in cash; endorsements deals from Gibson, Ernie Ball, Boss and Egnater; a feature in Guitar World magazine; a Gibson 1960 50th anniversary ES-335 guitar; an Epiphone 1965 Elitist Casino guitar; an Egnater Renegade full-stack amplifier; and a Boss GT10 guitar multi-effects processor and effects pedals.

Bryant said if he wins, he has practical ideas for using the prize money.

“The first thing I would do with the money is finish our house,” said Bryant. “We have some odds and ends that need to be attended to. And I’d probably buy my wife and I a new car, because we’ve about driven the wheels off the one we have now. After that, I will hopefully just play music with other people, and see which way my career goes.”