Navi (impersonator)

Navi is a Trinidadian-born Michael Jackson tribute artist and actor based in England.[1][2]

Navi Charles
Birth nameNavi Charles
BornFebruary 4 1976
Trinidad & Tobago
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Performer · actor · impersonator
Years active1988–present
Websitewww.kingofpop.co.uk

Navi starred as Jackson in Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland, a 2017 American television biopic.[3][4]

Early life

Navi was born on February 4 1976 in Trinidad & Tobago. He moved with his family to London where he took a liking to pop music, including Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Bob Marley etc.

Career

In 1992, after seeing him perform, Jackson began hiring the young impersonator on several occasions as a decoy, and for the promotion of world tours and albums such as HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I, Invincible and Thriller 25.

2003

In 2003, Michael Jackson invited Navi to perform at his 45th birthday concert at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, to which Navi agreed. He performed at the venue in front of an audience of 2,000 fans, with Jackson in attendance, performing Jam, Billie Jean and Thriller. At the end of his impersonation of Smooth Criminal, delighted by his rendition, Jackson went on to give him a standing ovation and thumbs up.

2009

In 2009, following the death of Michael Jackson, Navi was invited to attend the UK premiere of Michael Jackson's This Is It in London's Leicester Square. Navi created his own Michael Jackson tribute concert, King of Pop – The Legend Continues, starring himself, backed by a 4-piece live band and 4 dancers.[5]

2016

In 2016, for his The Legend Continues tour, Navi was joined on stage by Jennifer Batten.[6][7] Batten was lead guitarist for Michael Jackson on three world tours, including the Bad Tour, the Dangerous World Tour and the HIStory World Tour, as well as the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show.

Acting debut

In late 2016, Navi was cast in the starring role of Michael Jackson in the Lifetime/Silver Screen Pictures film, Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland,[8][9] his acting debut. The biopic was executive produced by Suzanne de Passe, former President of Motown Productions. Shooting began in January 2017 on location in Los Angeles.

References
  1. Navi - Michael Jackson Feature; BBC-UK; accessed June 2017
  2. "Michael Jackson Impersonator Says He Felt King of Pop's Presence on Lifetime Movie Set". EW.com. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  3. Who Is Navi? Michael Jackson Impersonator To Play King Of Pop In Lifetime Biopic; International Business Times; retrieved June 2017
  4. Michael Jackson Impersonator Lands King of Pop Role in Lifetime Biopic; Rolling Stone Magazine online; retrieved June 2017
  5. "Michael Jackson This Is It premiere - red carpet coverage". The Telegraph.
  6. Kennedy, Adam (November 21, 2016). "A Few Moments With Jennifer Batten".
  7. Fitzpatrick, Katie (September 27, 2016). "Michael Jackson guitarist Jennifer Batten on what it was like to work with MJ". Manchester Evening News.
  8. Kornhaber, Spencer (May 26, 2017). "Michael Jackson's Final Tragedy, Told Gently". The Atlantic.
  9. "Michael Jackson impersonator talks playing the King of Pop around the world, and now in Lifetime biopic". ABC News.
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