Miguel Jontel Pimentel (born October 23, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. Raised in
San Pedro, California
San Pedro ( ; Spanish: "St. Peter") is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909. The Port of Los Angeles, a major international seaport, is partially located wi ...
, he began pursuing a music career at age thirteen. After signing to
Jive Records
Jive Records was an American independent record label founded by Clive Calder in 1981 as a subsidiary to the Zomba Group. In the US, the label had offices in New York City and Chicago. Jive was best known for its successes with hip hop, R&B, ...
in 2007, Miguel released his debut studio album, ''
All I Want Is You'', in November 2010. Although it was underpromoted upon its release, the album became a
sleeper hit
In the entertainment industry, a sleeper hit is a film, television series, music release, video game, or some other entertainment product that was initially unsuccessful on release but became a success later on. A sleeper hit may have little prom ...
and helped Miguel garner commercial standing.
After Jive's dissolution in 2011, he moved to
RCA Records
RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also ...
and released his second studio album, ''
Kaleidoscope Dream
''Kaleidoscope Dream'' is the second studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Miguel. It was released on September 25, 2012, by Black Ice Records, ByStorm Entertainment, and RCA Records. After the commercial breakthrough of his debut album ...
'', in 2012 to critical acclaim. In June 2015, Miguel released his third album, ''
Wildheart
WildHeart (stylized as •WildHeart•) is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2018, the band consisted of lead vocalist Teddy Swims, lead guitarist Kevin Hanson, rhythm guitarist Addy Maxwell, bass guitarist Turner Wood, a ...
'', which also received critical acclaim. His fourth studio album ''
War & Leisure
''War & Leisure'' is the fourth studio album by American singer Miguel, released on December 1, 2017, through RCA Records. The album was preceded by the release of the first single: " Sky Walker" featuring Travis Scott. The album features further ...
'' was released in 2017 to further acclaim. Miguel incorporates
R&B,
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mi ...
,
hip hop,
pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop!, a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Albums
* ''Pop'' ( ...
,
rock and
electronic styles into his music, and has been compared to vocalists
Babyface and
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. ...
.
Early life
Miguel Jontel Pimentel was born on October 23, 1985,
and raised in
San Pedro, California
San Pedro ( ; Spanish: "St. Peter") is a neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, California. Formerly a separate city, it consolidated with Los Angeles in 1909. The Port of Los Angeles, a major international seaport, is partially located wi ...
.
He is one of two sons of an
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
mother and a
Mexican American
Mexican Americans ( es, mexicano-estadounidenses, , or ) are Americans of full or partial Mexican heritage. In 2019, Mexican Americans comprised 11.3% of the US population and 61.5% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexica ...
father.
Miguel's parents divorced when he was eight years old.
At a young age, Miguel was introduced to the older
R&B his mother listened to,
and his father's musical tastes, including
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mi ...
,
hip hop,
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
and
classic rock
Classic rock is a US radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the mid 1990s, prim ...
.
In eleventh grade, Miguel was introduced by a friend to a member of the production company Drop Squad, and he subsequently spent the rest of high school learning his way around a recording studio before seeking a record deal.
Miguel is also close high school friends with rapper
Blu, who also lived in San Pedro.
Career
2000–2006: Career beginnings
Miguel signed a production deal with Drop Squad in 2000.
In 2004, he auditioned to be part of the group ''Fatty Koo'', but their label,
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...
chose someone else to complete the sextet. Later in 2004, Miguel was signed by
independent record label
An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...
Black Ice and started working on his studio album,
''Young & Free''. It was scheduled to be released on November 30, 2006, but was ultimately shelved.
Black Ice released the single "Getcha Hands Up" with a video debut on ''
106 & Park
''106 & Park'' is an American hip hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that was broadcast on weekdays at 6:00 pm ET/5:00 pm CT on BET; it aired on a one-day delay on BET International. It was the network's highest- rate ...
'', but Miguel decided to change his sound and image and walked away from Black Ice Records.
[ ] He later said in an interview for ''
LA Weekly
''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin, who served as president and editor until 1991. Voice Media Group sold the paper in late 2017 to Semanal Media LLC, whose par ...
'', "We shot a video, and if you ever see it, you will laugh your ass off. I have a fitted hat on and a white T-shirt and baggy jeans. I was 19 years old and it was the first time anyone had ever given me money."
2007–2011: Signing and belated debut
For nearly a year, Miguel's manager at the time submitted several songs to music mogul Mark Pitts; after receiving a song titled "Sure Thing"—which Miguel described as a "highly personal ... record that no one was ever supposed to hear"—Pitts scheduled a meeting with Miguel in October 2007. The following month, Miguel signed a
recording contract
A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist (or group), where the artist makes a record (or series of records) for the label to sell and promote. Artists ...
with
Jive Records
Jive Records was an American independent record label founded by Clive Calder in 1981 as a subsidiary to the Zomba Group. In the US, the label had offices in New York City and Chicago. Jive was best known for its successes with hip hop, R&B, ...
.
Miguel recalled that the signing of his contract took place in a "very small room in a very small office in a small corner of the building at Jive".
After being signed, he recorded his debut album ''All I Want Is You'',
but was sued by Black Ice for breach of contract.
Consequently, his album was not released for two years.
In 2007, Miguel also contributed vocals to three tracks on the debut collaborative project of
Blu and
Exile
Exile is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons and peoples suf ...
, ''
Below the Heavens,'' appearing under the moniker "Miguel Jontel".
For the following three years, he contributed to Usher's ''
Here I Stand'' and ''
Raymond v. Raymond'', as well as
Asher Roth's ''
Asleep in the Bread Aisle
''Asleep in the Bread Aisle'' is the debut studio album by American hip hop recording artist Asher Roth. It was released on April 20, 2009, by School Boy, SRC and Universal Motown Records. The production on the album was largely contributed b ...
'' and
Musiq Soulchild's "
IfULeave".
[ ] Miguel also released ''Mischief: The Mixtape''; he explained that the title referred to his attempt to "
ellpeople that there is an alternative to getting sort of the same thing".
After his protracted contract dispute with Black Ice was settled,
''
All I Want Is You'' was released in November 2010.
It initially performed poorly, debuting at number 109 on the
''Billboard'' 200 on 11,000 copies sold,
and was underpromoted by Jive,
amid the label's dissolution.
The album's title track attained radio airplay, while Miguel toured as a supporting act for
Trey Songz
Tremaine Aldon Neverson (born November 28, 1984), known professionally as Trey Songz, is an American R&B singer and rapper. His debut album, ''I Gotta Make It'', was released in 2005 through Atlantic Records. His follow-up album, ''Trey Day'', ...
and
Usher
Usher may refer to:
Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place:
* Usher (occupation)
** Church usher
** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony
** F ...
.
Its following two singles, "
Sure Thing" and "
Quickie", performed well on the charts,
After falling off the chart for three weeks,
''All I Want Is You'' became a
sleeper hit
In the entertainment industry, a sleeper hit is a film, television series, music release, video game, or some other entertainment product that was initially unsuccessful on release but became a success later on. A sleeper hit may have little prom ...
,
as it re-entered the ''Billboard'' 200 and climbed the chart for 22 weeks, before peaking at number 37 on May 14, 2011.
It ultimately spent 45 weeks on the chart, and sold 404,000 copies in the US.
2012–2013: Label change, second album, and controversy
After Jive was shut down and absorbed by
RCA Records
RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also ...
, Miguel was moved to RCA, where Pitts was named president of urban music, and received a new marketing team.
His second studio album, ''
Kaleidoscope Dream
''Kaleidoscope Dream'' is the second studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Miguel. It was released on September 25, 2012, by Black Ice Records, ByStorm Entertainment, and RCA Records. After the commercial breakthrough of his debut album ...
'', was released on October 2, 2012, to critical acclaim. The album debuted at number three on the ''Billboard'' 200, selling 71,000 copies in its first week. As of February 2013, ''Kaleidoscope Dream'' has sold 322,000 copies, according to
Nielsen SoundScan
Luminate (formerly Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen Music Products, and MRC Data) is a provider of music sales data. Established by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett in 1991, data is collected weekly and made available every Sunday (for albums sales) and eve ...
. In February 2013, he released a politically driven video for the song "Candles in the Sun".
The album's
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
"Adorn", which had been released on August 7, became a sleeper hit on urban radio.
It was Miguel's second number-one single on the
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
, and his highest-charting single on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100 at number 17. By September, the single had sold 190,000 copies.
According to NPR's
Audie Cornish, Miguel "broke through to a national audience in 2012" with both "Adorn" and ''Kaleidoscope Dream''. The second single "Do You..." was released on September 18, and reached number 32 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
On March 3, 2013, "How Many Drinks?" was released as its third single.
By February 20, ''Kaleidoscope Dream'' had charted for 20 weeks on the ''Billboard'' 200 and sold 321,400 copies, according to
Nielsen SoundScan
Luminate (formerly Nielsen SoundScan, Nielsen Music Products, and MRC Data) is a provider of music sales data. Established by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett in 1991, data is collected weekly and made available every Sunday (for albums sales) and eve ...
.
In August 2013, the new single "
#Beautiful" with
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the w ...
became Miguel's third million-seller in the US, following "Sure Thing" and "Adorn".
During an energetic performance of "
Adorn" at the
''Billboard'' Music Awards on May 19, Miguel failed in an attempt to leap across the stage, injuring two audience members in the process. Barely missing the stage, Miguel landed on two women, hooking his right leg over one and knocking the other into the stage. The incident, known as the "Miguel Leg Drop", became an immediate internet sensation and has been satirized in numerous
internet meme
An Internet meme, commonly known simply as a meme ( ), is an idea, behavior, style, or image that is spread via the Internet, often through social media platforms. What is considered a meme may vary across different communities on the Internet ...
s and
gifs. It has also been the subject of controversy, with the show's producers claiming that they had denied the singer permission to attempt the leap, while Miguel's representatives have countered that no objections were raised during earlier rehearsals.
2014–present: ''Wildheart'', ''War & Leisure'' and ''Te Lo Dije''
Miguel released his third studio album titled ''
Wildheart
WildHeart (stylized as •WildHeart•) is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2018, the band consisted of lead vocalist Teddy Swims, lead guitarist Kevin Hanson, rhythm guitarist Addy Maxwell, bass guitarist Turner Wood, a ...
'' on June 30, 2015.
In December 2014, Miguel released a 3-track EP entitled ''NWA.HollywoodDreams.Coffee'' in promotion for the album. The album was nominated for a Grammy in the category Best Urban Contemporary Album, also "
Coffee
Coffee is a drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic, coffee has a stimulating effect on humans, primarily due to its caffeine content. It is the most popular hot drink in the world.
Seeds of ...
" was nominated for Best R&B Song. In 2016, Miguel released the single "Waves" that's been remixed by RAC and Tame Impala.
Miguel played a Cuban-American gangster in
Ben Affleck's period crime drama ''
Live by Night'', which was released on December 25, 2016, He covered
Beyoncé
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
's "
Crazy in Love" for the theatrical trailers of ''
Fifty Shades Darker
''Fifty Shades Darker'' is a 2012 erotic romance novel by British author E. L. James. It is the second installment in the ''Fifty Shades'' trilogy that traces the deepening relationship between a college graduate, Anastasia Steele, and a youn ...
'' (2017).
In September 2016, he was an opening act for
Sia's
Nostalgic for the Present Tour. The tour ran until November 6 that year.
Miguel partnered with Revolve Impact and headlined the
Schools Not Prisons tour, along with other musicians, to spread awareness of
mass incarceration throughout California.
His music video for "Now" was filmed in Adelanto, which is the location of California's largest immigration processing center,
Adelanto Detention Center. In an interview with
''Rolling Stone'', he expresses his advocacy on the corruption and abuse of the immigration system on detained immigrants, "to see innocent people being ripped from their way of life to essentially be incarcerated and used as cheap labor is really crazy to me."
Miguel's fourth album, ''
War & Leisure
''War & Leisure'' is the fourth studio album by American singer Miguel, released on December 1, 2017, through RCA Records. The album was preceded by the release of the first single: " Sky Walker" featuring Travis Scott. The album features further ...
'', was released on December 1, 2017. He describes the album as having "political undertones, because that's what life feels like right now".
Miguel sang a duet of "Remember Me" with
Natalia Lafourcade on the soundtrack of Disney Pixar's movie ''
Coco'', which debuted in theaters in the US on November 22, 2017. He also performed the song live at the Oscars in 2018. In January 2019,
Benny Blanco, Miguel, and
Calvin Harris
Adam Richard Wiles (born 17 January 1984), known professionally as Calvin Harris, is a Scottish DJ, record producer, singer, and songwriter who has released six studio albums.
His debut studio album, ''I Created Disco'', was released in June ...
released a music video for the song "I Found You", in tandem with the While They Wait campaign, an initiative by Brooklyn Defender Services,
Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services
The Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES) is a nonprofit organization based in Texas that aims to provide legal services for immigrants. , it was the largest legal aid group of its kind in Texas. RAICES also runs ...
and
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States". T ...
which raises awareness about the challenges immigrants face while waiting for asylum.
In an interview with The Breakfast Club Power 105:1 it was revealed Miguel was working on a Latin album. In April 2019, Miguel released the Spanish EP ''
Te Lo Dije
''Te Lo Dije'' is the first Spanish-language extended play by American recording artist Miguel, released on April 5, 2019, via ByStorm Entertainment and RCA Records.
It is a reissue of Miguel's fourth album ''War & Leisure'' featuring five tracks ...
''. The EP peaked at number 11 on the
Top Latin Albums chart, becoming his first chart entry there.
July 13, 2020 – Miguel began conversations with Twitter users on behalf of a GQ interview. He was asked when he would release a new album. Miguel personally replied physically on the social media platform and clarified verbally in the video to expect another, "project", by the end of the year. The term project may not be a sufficient exchange of a full release album. Or it may mean Miguel has begun collaborative performances with other Latin music artists again.
In April 2021, Miguel released his new EP ''Art Dealer Chic 4'' via ByStorm and RCA Records.
Artistry
Miguel identifies himself as part of the new wave of R&B artists that include
Frank Ocean
Christopher Francis "Frank" Ocean (born Christopher Edwin Breaux; October 28, 1987), is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. His works are noted by music critics for featuring avant-garde styles and introspective, elliptical lyrics. Ocean ...
,
The Weeknd
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye (born February 16, 1990), known professionally as the Weeknd, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Known for his sonic versatility and dark lyricism, his music explores escapism, romance, and ...
and
Elle Varner.
About.com editor Mark Edward Nero characterizes his music as "eclectic, artsy R&B-pop".
Miguel cites musicians
Prince
A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. ...
,
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...
,
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
,
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British singer and songwriter, who achieved worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the ...
,
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...
,
Donny Hathaway
Donny Edward Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979) was an American soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, and arranger whom ''Rolling Stone'' described as a "soul legend". His most popular songs include " The Ghetto", "This Christmas ...
,
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop and particularly gangsta ...
,
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
,
Saul Williams
Saul Stacey Williams (born February 29, 1972) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, musician, poet, writer, and actor. He is known for his blend of poetry and alternative hip hop, and for his lead roles in the 1998 independent film '' Slam ...
,
Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
,
Usher
Usher may refer to:
Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place:
* Usher (occupation)
** Church usher
** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony
** F ...
and
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom h ...
as influences
in addition to expressing his admiration for
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, pop, s ...
,
John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of ...
and
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren (born September 7, 1956) is an American songwriter. She has received several awards including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ''Billboard'' Music Awards and an Honorary Academy Award.
Wa ...
.
Miguel revealed his desire to have worked with
James Brown
James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the hono ...
, whom he considers the "last innovator for me when it comes to soul".
In addition to singing, Miguel also plays the
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected string ...
.
Miguel incorporates R&B,
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mi ...
,
hip hop,
rock and
electronic styles into his music.
Miguel described his sound as "nostalgic in a sense that it's familiar ... it's shocking, edgy, energizing".
In an interview with ''
Paper
Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fibre evenly distribu ...
'' magazine, he regarded his music as "fly,
funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American funk rock band formed in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1968 and active until 1982. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, pioneered the funk music culture of the 1970s.John, Bush. Funkade ...
, intergalactic-hip-hop-meets-sexy-orgasmic crazy, dope shit". Miguel is often compared to
Babyface and Prince.
His vocals are influenced by classic rock bands such as
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
,
Queen
Queen or QUEEN may refer to:
Monarchy
* Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom
** List of queens regnant
* Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king
* Queen dowager, the widow of a king
* Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...
,
The Police
The Police were an English rock band formed in London in 1977. For most of their history the line-up consisted of primary songwriter Sting (lead vocals, bass guitar), Andy Summers (guitar) and Stewart Copeland (drums, percussion). The Polic ...
and
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1976 in Sheffield. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drums, backing vocals), Phil Collen (guitar, backing vocals), ...
. Brian McManus of ''
The Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the cr ...
'' writes that "
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo ar ...
, Prince, and (his comparison)
Van Morrison
Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards.
As a teenager in t ...
all linger in his voice." In ''
LA Weekly
''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin, who served as president and editor until 1991. Voice Media Group sold the paper in late 2017 to Semanal Media LLC, whose par ...
''
Salaam Remi
Salaam Remi Gibbs (born May 14, 1972) is a Grammy winning American record producer known for his association with Nas, Amy Winehouse, Robby, Fugees, Fergie, Estelle, Black Thought, and Miguel, and for his reggae-tinged (often referred to as ...
states: "Miguel is letting his art rule his whole flow, and that's the best place for an artist to be. To me he kind of feels like Prince, where he's doing this eclectic blend but still coming back to focused songs."
Speaking in 2021, media personality and culture critic
Charlamagne tha God
Lenard Larry McKelvey (born June 29, 1978), known professionally as Charlamagne tha God or simply Charlamagne, is an American radio host and television personality. He is a co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show '' The Breakfast Club ...
called Miguel "the greatest R&B singer of the past decade", adding that, "There's a lot of other brothers and sisters doing they thing man, but I'm just talkin' 'bout when it comes to like, that old OG traditional R&B that I love, you know.
Jodeci type sh*t and you know,
Dru Hill,
Guy, 'Piece of My Love.' That soulful mmm! It's always been Miguel for me."
Personal life
Miguel has said that
Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation (TM) is a form of silent mantra meditation advocated by the Transcendental Meditation movement. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi created the technique in India in the mid-1950s. Advocates of TM claim that the technique promotes ...
is the key to balancing his lifestyle: "It's good to take a breath from everything and just center yourself. That is the best way of describing it."
Miguel was in a relationship with model
Nazanin Mandi
Nazanin Aliza Mandighomi Pimentel ( ; born September 11, 1986), known professionally as Nazanin Mandi, is an American actress, singer, model, and life coach.
Early life
Nazanin Mandi was born on September 11, 1986, in Valencia, California. Sh ...
from 2005-2022. In January 2016, it was announced that they were engaged. The couple married on November 24, 2018, at Hummingbird Nest Ranch in
Santa Susana, California
Santa Susana (Spanish for "St. Susan") is a former railroad town located mostly within the City of Simi Valley. A small portion of the community, outside the Simi Valley city limits to the south of the Ventura County Metrolink rail line, is an uni ...
. On September 27, 2021, Miguel and Mandi announced their separation. In February 2022, the couple called off their separation. On October 4, Mandi filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences.
In 2017, Miguel was accused of sexual assault by Xian Bass, a fan of his music. Miguel denied the accusation, calling it "bizarre" and "twisted," as well as claiming that Bass' story of what transpired is not accurate.
Discography
Studio albums
* ''
All I Want Is You'' (2010)
* ''
Kaleidoscope Dream
''Kaleidoscope Dream'' is the second studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Miguel. It was released on September 25, 2012, by Black Ice Records, ByStorm Entertainment, and RCA Records. After the commercial breakthrough of his debut album ...
'' (2012)
* ''
Wildheart
WildHeart (stylized as •WildHeart•) is an American rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2018, the band consisted of lead vocalist Teddy Swims, lead guitarist Kevin Hanson, rhythm guitarist Addy Maxwell, bass guitarist Turner Wood, a ...
'' (2015)
* ''
War & Leisure
''War & Leisure'' is the fourth studio album by American singer Miguel, released on December 1, 2017, through RCA Records. The album was preceded by the release of the first single: " Sky Walker" featuring Travis Scott. The album features further ...
'' (2017)
Filmography
* ''
Live by Night'' (2016) as Esteban Suarez
* ''
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at t ...
'' (2017) as Malcolm
* ''
The Platinum Life'' (2017, TV Series) as Himself
* ''
Fearless
Fearless or The Fearless may refer to:
Psychology
* Lack of fear
* Courage or bravery
Film, television and audio Film
* ''Fearless'' (1978 film), an Italian film directed by Stelvio Massi
* ''Fearless'' (1993 film), an American drama directed ...
'' (2020) as Arcannis (voice)
References
External links
Official website"Miguel: Second Wind"by ''
The Fader
''The Fader'' (stylized as ''FADER'') is a magazine based in New York City that was launched in 1999 by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen. The magazine covers music, style and culture. It was the first print publication to be released on iTunes.
It is o ...
''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Miguel
African-American male singer-songwriters
1985 births
Living people
American electronic musicians
American funk singers
American hip hop singers
American musicians of Mexican descent
Record producers from California
American rock musicians
Grammy Award winners
Singer-songwriters from California
Jive Records artists
RCA Records artists
People from San Pedro, Los Angeles
20th-century American guitarists
21st-century American guitarists
Guitarists from Los Angeles
American male guitarists
20th-century African-American male singers
21st-century African-American male singers
Alternative R&B musicians
African-American male guitarists