Toledo Idol: Petie Rodriguez

OREGON, Ohio - Eleven-year-old prodigy Petie Rodriguez picked up his first guitar when he was just 5.

In about six years he hasn't put the axe down, instead churning out his own songs and performing for his classmates.

Like most youngsters, Petie goes to school in Oregon and plays baseball. But when he gets home from practice, he jams.

"I want to be a musician and travel the world playing my music at concerts."

With influences like Eddie Van Halen, Petie most definitely garners strength from other guitar greats like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

His dad handed him a guitar when he was in kindergarten. The Rodriguez family has always been musical, but Petie's parents were shocked that their son started to really rock and shred the guitar.

"My dad will just make a beat and I'll play along to it, or he'll do one of my songs. I love doing that."

Petie admits he will play anything, but he truly enjoys the work of Van Halen, and a guitarist at his church.

Whomever he performs for, whether it's at school or at a concert, all are very supportive.

"I showed my coach my YouTube channel and he said I was meant to play guitar and that I can't hurt my finger when I'm playing baseball. They've got me on their phone, they've got YouTube videos of me. They just love it."

This young rocker is glad, because he wants to play his music for life.

"This is all I've got my mind set on, and it's really important to me."

Petie plans to play guitar as much as he can while balancing school and other non-musical activities.