B.C. singer wows American Idol judges, earns season’s first platinum ticket

Tyson Venegas gave Katy Perry and Lionel Richie goosebumps, while Luke Bryan looked like he was holding back tears.

The trio of judges on American Idol Sunday night rewarded the 17-year-old from Port Moody for his moving piano and vocal rendition of Billy Joel’s New York State of Mind with a platinum ticket, the first of the ABC show’s 21st season.

“He’s claiming to be 17 years old,” Richie said post-performance, after asking Venegas to fetch his mom Iris to the stage from where she watched in the green room, “but he’s performing like a 45-year-old.”

Venegas mostly stays away from current pop hits, preferring old standards.

By seven he was the winner of the B.C. Junior Talent Contest at the Cloverdale Rodeo and at eight he finished in first place in the PNE’s 2013 Star Showdown, performing the 1946 Nat King Cole standard (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66, beating out kids as old as 12.