Eddie Cotton Jr. wants to bring the world’s top blues award home to Vicksburg.

Cotton will be competing Jan. 21-24 in Memphis as the Vicksburg Blues Society’s entry for the International Blues Challenge.

“We’re going to scrap for it, you better believe it,” Cotton said.

The Clinton resident preforms in Vicksburg about once a month at Ameristar’s Bottleneck Blues Bar as

part of the Vicksburg Blues Society, said Shirley Waring, president of the blues society.  In 2014, Castro Coleman, who performs as Mr. Sipp, won the international title as the representative of the local blues society.

“We’re hoping to go for a triple crown,” Waring said.

Cotton said he has been preforming music “all my life, from Daddy’s church to now.” His father founded Christ Chapel Church of God in Clinton. After studying music theory at Jackson State University, Cotton became minister of music at his father’s church.

Cotton’s gospel background reflects in his soulful vocals, but it’s obvious from his blistering guitar that he draws just as much inspiration from juke joints as from church. The seemingly unlikely combination makes for a high-energy show.

Saturday at Ameristar Cotton had the crowd on their feet as he called out his trademark catchphrase “Blues lovers, do you feel alright?”

As long as the audience is feeling alright, Cotton is too.

“I’m all about the audience,” Cotton said. “If they move, I’m going to move too.”

Cotton said he’s grateful to be the blues challenge entrant from Vicksburg this year and wants to bring the title of king of the blues back to the birthplace of the blues.

“It’s bigger than Eddie Cotton. It’s about Mississippi,” Cotton said.

Waring said Vicksburg’s presence in the international contest has put a spotlight on Mississippi’s world-class entertainment.

“We’re looking to build things and get good exposure for Mississippi,” Waring said.