Entertainment

Rising Music Star Performs At Concert For Kids

DENVER (CBS4) ― A young and unique musical talent is coming to Denver next weekend to perform at a fundraiser for Concert For Kids. Peter Cincotti is called "the next big thing" by one of music's most successful producers.

Cincotti, 25, is already a big hit in Europe and is about to release his third album in the United States.

The New York native told CBS4's Molly Hughes he started playing piano at the age of 3 and was writing music by the age of 9.

"My first club gig was when I was 12," Cincotti said.

At 13, he became the youngest person to headline at the Algonquin Theater in New York. As a high school student, he played at the White House.

Cincotti said it began before kindergarten when he heard a recording of Jerry Lee Lewis playing piano.

"He always had that," Cincotti said of Lewis. "Where his left had was his own entity. I just liked people who played fast."

"He's brilliant, he's a brilliant musician," said David Foster, a pop music producer. "Peter Cincotti doesn't sound like anyone else. His music doesn't sound like anyone else and his voice doesn't sound like anybody else. And that is going to serve him very well throughout his entire life."

Foster has watched Cincotti's musical style evolve from pure Jazz into a blend of Jazz, pop, rock, blues and funk.

The special concert at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House is on Aug. 1. Hazel Miller will also perform, along with Cincotti.

The fundraiser for Concert For Kids has tickets starting at $15. Learn more at concertforkids.org.

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