Biography
Who is Miguel?
Early life and background
Miguel was born as Miguel Jontel Pimentel on October 23, 1985, and raised in San Pedro, California. He grew up as one of two sons of an African American mother and a Mexican American father. His parents divorced when he was eight years old. During his childhood, he was introduced to his mother's collection of older R&B music and his father's preference for funk, hip hop, jazz, and classic rock.
While attending San Pedro High School, Miguel connected with a member of the production company Drop Squad through a friend. He spent the remainder of his high school years learning how to handle a recording studio before actively pursuing a professional music career. He also maintained a close friendship with fellow local rapper Blu during their school years.
Career beginnings and debut album
Miguel signed a production deal with Drop Squad in 2000 and later secured a recording contract with the independent label Black Ice in 2004. He began working on a studio album titled Young and Free, which was ultimately shelved after he decided to change his musical direction and walked away from the label. His manager later submitted several songs to music mogul Mark Pitts, leading to a meeting and a new record deal with Jive Records in November 2007.
His debut studio album, All I Want Is You, was released in November 2010 after a delay caused by a contract dispute. The album initially performed modestly but later became a sleeper hit on the Billboard 200 chart. It featured the single Sure Thing, which gained big popularity and went viral on TikTok years later, helping the track reach a second peak on the Billboard Hot 100.
Major albums and musical success
Following the dissolution of Jive Records, Miguel moved to RCA Records and released his second studio album, Kaleidoscope Dream, in October 2012. The album received critical acclaim and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, Adorn, became a major radio hit and earned him significant commercial success, eventually winning a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.
He continued to expand his musical style with his third and fourth studio albums, Wildheart in 2015 and War and Leisure in 2017, which incorporated alternative and psychedelic influences. The latter album featured the single Sky Walker with guest artist Travis Scott, which received a triple platinum certification. He also contributed vocals to soundtrack projects, including the song Remember Me for the Disney Pixar film Coco.
Film and other projects
Aside from his solo music career, Miguel has ventured into acting and collaborative projects. He played the role of a Cuban American gangster in the period crime drama film Live by Night, directed by Ben Affleck and released in December 2016. He also recorded a cover of Beyoncé's song Crazy in Love for the theatrical trailers of Fifty Shades Darker in 2017.
Miguel has also been involved in activism and community outreach. He partnered with Revolve Impact to headline the Schools Not Prisons tour across California to raise awareness about mass incarceration. He filmed the music video for his song Now at a location near a major immigration processing center to highlight issues surrounding the immigration system.
Birthday and age
Miguel was born on October 23, 1985, which makes Miguel 41 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Miguel shares the date with 41 other famous people.
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