Raul Midón

Raul Midón is a New Mexico-born, New York-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who redefined the possibilities of the solo acoustic performer in the early 21st century. Blind from birth, Midón developed a highly idiosyncratic 'slap-attack' guitar style that incorporates percussive hits on the body of the instrument while maintaining complex fingerstyle patterns.

His sound identity is a sophisticated synthesis of vocal jazz, blue-eyed soul, and folk-pop, characterized by a smooth, multi-octave tenor and the ability to mimic brass instruments with his voice. After a successful career as a background vocalist for Latin pop stars like Shakira and Julio Iglesias, his solo breakthrough came with 2005's 'State of Mind'. His career arc shows a steady evolution from acoustic purism toward more expansive arrangements, including collaborations with the Metropole Orkest. Critically, he is regarded as a 'musician's musician,' earning multiple Grammy nominations in the Jazz category while maintaining a foothold in the singer-songwriter tradition. His influence web connects the rhythmic soul of Stevie Wonder to the technical folk-jazz of Richie Havens and Al Jarreau.