Westfield 12-Year-Old 'Lives The Life Of A Rock Star'

WESTFIELD, NJ — Kobi Reese is not your typical rock star. For starters, he's 12 years old and just finished out his school year in sixth grade at Westfield's Edison Intermediate School.

Yet, age is just a number to Reese who performs with more than 30 adult bands and has his own band called REESE. Kobi writes his own original music and has released a few songs which are on all digital music platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, etc.

Reese already has a huge following with fans cheering him on at his shows and throwing up the horns.

"It feels so amazing, you can't replace the moment, the clapping is an incredible moment," said Reese to Patch about being on stage. "Especially off-stage the autographs and pictures are so amazing. I am so happy I chose this lifestyle."

Reese's love of music began at a very young age.

"Rock music was always playing in my house whether from my mom or dad, said Reese who was inspired to play drums.

Reese would use chopsticks to play the "drums" on his bedframe. That's when his parents got him drum lessons.

"This musical passion came straight from Kobi. Since he was a baby he had such a passion for music. He was begging us to take drum lessons," said Reese's mother Lori. "He is our fifth child sp the last thing we needed in the house was a drum kit. But finally, when he was turning 7 years old, he said he didn't want a birthday party or presents. 'All I want is a drum kit' and at that point, we thought we had to give in."

Reese had his first concert at 7 years old with his music school and eventually, when he turned 9 his teacher encouraged him to sing.

He began performing along with adult bands but he wanted more.

"I wanted to be the main event. I wanted to be a rock star. I knew if kept guesting with bands that wouldn't happen," said Reese.

He began writing his own music and formed his own band called REESE. His music is inspired by his love for Bon Jovi, Poison, Mötley Crüe and most 80s metal hair bands.

"I always wanted to be like Bon Jovi. The main act and travel around the world," said Reese.

Reese credited his parents for his success with his band as they help with his publicity and to book shows.

"We are very impressed with him and he really handles all of this well. Even though he lives a rock star life he is still a normal 12-year-old," said Lori.

Reese plays baseball for the Westfield recreation team and makes time for friends.

"Sometimes it's a challenge. If I want to live a rock star life I have to keep straight A's in school and try to do my best in tests and quizzes, homework," said Reese.

And even with his home life, he is still touring in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and even in Los Angeles.

"It is just surreal, we know he is a normal 12-year-old kid at home and then we go to these huge theaters surrounded by photographers and people begging for his autograph," said Lori.

To learn more about Kobi Reese, to book him, or to find upcoming shows visit kobireese.com.

See his latest song Reese wrote called "Sometimes When":

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.

Know an outstanding student?

Nominate them here.