‘American Idol’ Star Robbie Rosen Sings at Legislature

By now, 17-year-old Robbie Rosen is used to performing in front of crowds.

The junior from Calhoun High School finished this year’s “American Idol” competition in the Top 24 after his renditions of Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday,” “Moody’s Mood for Love,” “I Want You Back” and “Got to Get You Into My Life” in the group performances, and Elton John’s “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Thing” to move him through the various rounds of the FOX show’s competition.

“I was watching as was [Calhoun principal David] Seinfeld,” said Leg. David Denenberg, D-Merrick, at a meeting of the County Legislature.

“Robbie is at the top of his class at Calhoun,” Denenberg continued, as well as the starting third baseman on the baseball team who made it to the Long Island finals last year. Rosen was in the same grade as Denenberg’s son at Calhoun and also knew his daughters.

Rosen, who had been watching Idol since he was seven, said “I always envisioned myself on that stage... and I finally got there.”

Rosen had been honored before by the county legislature when he was 10 after winning the New York little league state championship as a member of the Merrick 9-10 squad in 2005.

This time he received a citation for his appearance on “Idol” and sang “The Star Spangled Banner” as part of the business meeting.

“I want you to make believe that [Majority leader] Peter [Schmitt] is Randy Jackson and that Diane is J.Lo,” Leg. John Ciotti, R-Valley Stream, advised the teen.

“As somebody who’s never watched ‘American Idol,’ I think I took a hit,” Schmitt replied dryly.

Rosen is also a songwriter, having penned a song in two days entitled “Make it Through” for the family of a 2-year-old girl who has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a terminal illness.

“When you’re inspired as a musician, it kind of just flows out of you,” Rosen said.

The song was made nto the soundtrack of a Youtube video photo montage of children with SMA. Rosen had to remove the song from his personal Youtube channel because of the “Idol” competition but the family of the child kept it on their account.

Since he is no longer in competition, Rosen will be performing it at Nassau Coliseum for the Islanders’ SMA awareness night on Saturday.

“Its the first time that I’m going to sing that in a big arena in front of thousands of people,” Rosen said. Sophia, the child for whom the song is written, is reportedly going to be in the audience with her family.

Before leaving, Rosen congratulated all of the other Intel finalists honored Monday as well “because they’re my fellow high school kids, too and just thank you for your wonderful work and everything you’ve been doing.”