12-Year-Old NJ Boy Gains Local Fame After Rocking Out To Springsteen

PARAMUS, N.J. (CBSNewYork)-- If you've ever wondered how a star is born, there's a seventh grader in Paramus, New Jersey who is ready to rock.

CBS2's Cindy Hsu spoke with the young man with an old soul.

Jake Thistle is only 12 years old, but he fell in love with music at the age of 2 while watching Billy Joel.

"He had this contraption over his neck and he was playing the harmonica and I thought it was really cool," Thistle said. "We went to Guitar Center and I got a harmonica holder, and this is the same one from when I was 2."

Then came his love of guitars-- he's now the owner of nine. The young musician told CBS2 he paid for them himself after earning money from gigs.  He loves vinyl records and the classic rock stars.

"I was playing a gig and I was playing a couple Beatles songs in a row and then a couple of the girls came up and said did you write those?" Thistle recalled.

He plays all over the place and has been posting music videos online when he felt he needed to go with the boss.

"I decided to learn a Springsteen song because I didn't have one yet, and people requested it because I'm from New Jersey and everything," he said.

He learned "No Surrender" and the video went viral.

"I would get messages in all these different languages, in like all over Europe," he said.

He also plays for local charities and the senior center nearby. Along with all the charity work, Jake has been hired for weddings, bar mitzvahs and Kilwins Confectionery Shop where he performs every weekend.

Philip Davis hired him after he heard Jake playing in town.

"I thought he was just incredible. Everybody that was walking by was completely blown away at what they were seeing," Davis said.

The young star is a fixture there, playing every Saturday. He says his dream for the future is anything to do with music.