Miguel (singer)

Miguel (singer)
Name	Miguel
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Miguel Jontel Pimentel
Birth date	23 October 1985
Birth place	Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres	R&B, neo soul, funk, hip hop, pop
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, producer
Years active	2000s–present
Labels	Jive Records, ByStorm Entertainment, RCA Records, Black Ice Records

Miguel (singer) is an American singer and songwriter known for blending R&B, neo soul, funk, and rock influences. Born in Los Angeles and raised in San Pedro, he achieved mainstream success with albums including "Kaleidoscope Dream" and singles such as "Adorn". He has collaborated with artists across genres and received critical acclaim, earning multiple Grammy Award nominations and wins.

Early life and education

Miguel Jontel Pimentel was born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Pedro and Inglewood areas, where his family background included Mexican and African American heritage. He studied theater and music at local schools and attended El Camino College and later enrolled in programs influenced by regional performing arts institutions such as Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and community conservatories. Early exposure to artists like Prince, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, and Carlos Santana shaped his musical development. During adolescence he performed in church choirs and opened for touring acts in Los Angeles venues, interacting with musicians from scenes connected to Hollywood, Compton, and Long Beach.

Career

Miguel began his career in the 2000s performing in Los Angeles clubs and developing songwriting credits for artists associated with Atlantic Records, Interscope Records, and Universal Music Group. He signed with ByStorm Entertainment and released early material that drew attention from executives at Jive Records. His major-label debut, "All I Want Is You", spawned singles that charted on Billboard and led to touring with acts such as Ciara, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, and Janelle Monáe. The 2012 release "Kaleidoscope Dream" consolidated critical acclaim and commercial success, driven by the single "Adorn", produced with collaborators linked to No I.D., Fool's Gold, and producers who had worked with Kanye West and Jay-Z. Subsequent albums, including "Wildheart" and "War & Leisure", showcased collaborations with artists like Miguel-affiliated producers and guest vocalists from scenes connected to Drake, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, and Mac Miller. He has performed at major festivals such as Coachella, Glastonbury Festival, Essence Festival, and Lollapalooza, and appeared on television programs including Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Miguel has also contributed songwriting and production to projects by Usher, Alicia Keys, Tina Turner, Jill Scott, and Frank Ocean.

Musical style and influences

Miguel's sound merges R&B, neo soul, and rock elements with experimental production aesthetics influenced by Prince, Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, The Beatles, and David Bowie. He cites writers and performers from Motown Records, Stax Records, and the funk tradition, including connections to the catalogs of Curtis Mayfield, Sly Stone, Parliament-Funkadelic, and James Brown. His vocal style draws comparisons to Maxwell, D'Angelo, and John Legend, while his arrangements reference producers such as Timbaland, No I.D., Pharrell Williams, and Danger Mouse. Miguel's lyrical themes often engage with motifs explored by Prince and Marvin Gaye—love, sensuality, identity, and social observation—while his stagecraft recalls performances by Jimi Hendrix, Prince, and Michael Jackson.

Discography

- All I Want Is You (2010) — released under Jive Records with singles charting on Billboard - Kaleidoscope Dream (2012) — lead single "Adorn"; critical attention from Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and The Guardian - Wildheart (2015) — collaborations with producers linked to RCA Records and independent labels - War & Leisure (2017) — features artists from Hip hop and Latin music scenes, including links to Roc Nation-adjacent producers - Art Dealer Chic, Vol. 1 (2021) — EP showcasing experimental songwriting and international collaborations with artists associated with Sony Music and independent collectives

Awards and nominations

Miguel has received multiple Grammy nominations and wins, with recognition in categories including Best R&B Song, Best Urban Contemporary Album, and Best R&B Performance. He has been honored by publications and institutions such as Billboard, BET, Soul Train Music Awards, and the MTV VMAs for songwriting and performance. Miguel's work on "Kaleidoscope Dream" and "Adorn" earned industry awards and nominations from organizations including The Recording Academy, NAACP Image Awards, and regional music industry bodies in California and nationwide.

Personal life

Miguel maintains a private personal life while publicly engaging with peers from diverse artistic communities including Los Angeles musicians, producers, and actors. He has been romantically linked in media reports to figures within entertainment circles associated with Hollywood and the music industry; he interacted professionally with artists from R&B and hip hop communities such as Drake, Rihanna, Ariana Grande, and Kendrick Lamar via collaborations and performances. Miguel has cited mentors including No I.D. and peers like John Legend and Janelle Monáe as influential to career decisions.

Philanthropy and activism

Miguel has supported charitable efforts and community programs in Los Angeles, partnering with organizations focused on arts education and youth development connected to institutions like LAUSD arts initiatives, community centers in San Pedro, and nonprofit entities associated with Social justice and cultural preservation. He has participated in benefit concerts and advocacy campaigns alongside artists who support causes promoted by Global Citizen, Alive & Well AIDS Alternatives, and other philanthropic networks, and has used performances at festivals such as ESSENCE Festival to highlight social issues.

Category:American contemporary R&B singers Category:Singers from Los Angeles