Miming in front of a mirror with a hairbrush to his mouth the gangly Ilford teenager could never have imagined he would one day enjoy the glittering popstar lifestyle of the idol he adored.
As the world’s best-known Michael Jackson impersonator, Navi (as he prefers to be known) has tasted the sweet fruits of pop superstardom without ever selling a single record, but admits he was mocked for his dreams as a child and teenager.
One of eleven children, he could easily have slipped into obscurity amidst the hustle and bustle of family life, but a momentous decision made at a tender age, ensured he would never be ignored again.
A tenacious dancer since childhood, Navi idolised the new breed of popstar that appeared during the late 1970s and early 1980s, who combined gymnastic physical routines with powerful vocals during their performances.
David Bowie, Luther Vandross and Tina Turner were early influences, but it wasn’t until 1979, the year his family emigrated from Trinidad to Britain, that Navi first experienced the genius of Michael Jackson, the artist who would come to define his life.
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