Shaheen is a teen pop sensation who initially rose to fame as a 12-year-old finalist on the television show Britain's Got Talent in 2009. Hailing from Swansea, Wales, he was born on January 23, 1997, and is of Iranian and Welsh descent. He did a range of acting and musical performance work prior to appearing on the third season of the ITV casting show Britain's Got Talent and making it all the way to the finals there. Airing from April 11 to May 30, 2009, the third season of Britain's Got Talent was notable for its inclusion of international chart-topping vocalist Susan Boyle, who finished in second place. Boyle generated extraordinarily high television ratings for the third season, benefiting Shaheen in the process. Shortly after his appearance on Britain's Got Talent, Shaheen gave a memorable performance of the Smokey Robinson song "Who's Lovin' You" at the internationally televised Michael Jackson memorial concert at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, and was given a standing ovation. Prior to his death, Jackson had chosen Shaheen to perform with him on his This Is It tour. Shaheen signed a recording contract with Island Records in 2010, and arrangements were made for him to make his full-length album debut late in the year. ~ Jason Birchmeier