Shaheen Jafargholi's wows Oprah

Friday, 16 October 2009

Shaheen Jafargholi wowed Oprah Winfrey with his singing.

The 12-year-old 'Britain's Got Talent' singer is set to follow in the footsteps of fellow contestant on the reality TV show, Susan Boyle, by taking the US by storm.

Shaheen performed his version of 'Who's Loving You' - a Smokey Robinson song which was covered by Jackson early in his career - on the talk show, leading Oprah to proclaim: "Wowzer, wowzer, wowzer!"

Shaheen later told her of his amazement at being asked to then perform at the late 'Thriller' singer's memorial service earlier this year, after the star's family had reportedly seen his performance on 'Britain's Got Talent'.

Shaheen told Oprah: "It just goes to show that if you're willing to take a risk, like I did appearing on 'Britain's Got Talent', something great could happen.

"It could have gone one way or another on that show and it happened to be amazing for me."

Shaheen - who was one of nine finalists on the British reality show - was famously stopped from singing his original song choice, Amy Winehouse's version of 'Valerie', by show host Simon Cowell when he initially auditioned, before being given another chance, when he wowed the crowd with 'Who's Loving You'.

According to TV host Larry King, following Jafargholi's tribute at Jackson's memorial, he had leaned forward and asked Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, "Who is that"?

Gordy reportedly told him: "I have no cotton picking idea who that is, but if I were [still] in the business, I would sign him tomorrow."