Seaford native Jesse Kinch competes on 'Rising Star' singing show
Jesse Kinch, of Seaford, among contestants on ABC's "Rising Star," a new ABC musical show that debuted June 22, 2014, won the contest. Credit: ABC / Craig Sjodin
A Seaford native will be featured on ABC's new singing competition series, "Rising Star." Jesse Kinch, 20, was one of 10 singers and groups named last week to appear on the series -- which bows Sunday night at 9 -- that ABC says has a technological advancement over "The Voice" and "American Idol": Real-time audience voting via mobile devices.
ABC described Kinch as "a full-time musician and singer," who plays guitar, piano and drums."
On his website, Kinch says he's "part of a new generation of young talent who want to bring rock n' roll back to its glory days" and is "influenced heavily by the great rock bands and guitarists of the '60s, '70s and the Seattle scene of the '90s."
"Rising Star" is hosted by Josh Groban, with an "expert panel" of Kesha, Ludacris and Brad Paisley. ABC says viewers for the first time will be able to determine which singers advance, by downloading an app from the "Rising Star" website or app stores, and then "swiping" a yes or no vote for the singers as they perform. Only when a singer "reaches a certain [vote] threshold" will he or she move on.
Besides Kinch, another New York-area native will also compete: Lisa Punch, 21, of Brooklyn.
