Manuel Seal facts for kids

Manuel Lonnie Seal, Jr., born on September 26, 1960, is a talented American musician. He is a record producer, songwriter, and helps singers improve their voices. He also plays many instruments.

Manuel Seal has worked with many famous artists. These include Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Usher, and Destiny's Child. He often worked with Jermaine Dupri. He has won a Grammy Award, which is a very important music prize. He was nominated 13 times!

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Manuel Seal was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Manuel and Betty Seal. He has two younger sisters. When he was three, his family moved to Freeport, Illinois.

Music was important in his family. His parents started his piano lessons when he was five. His father played many instruments in a band. His mother sang in the church choir. His mother worked hard as a school teacher. She bought a home for the family.

Manuel wanted to learn every instrument. He started playing the flute in grade school. By high school, he had formed a band. They traveled to nearby towns to perform. He became very popular in the Midwest. He spent a lot of time performing and improving his musical skills.

Manuel Seal's Music Career

Manuel Seal was discovered while working with Grammy-winning artist Ann Nesby. His manager helped him get meetings in Los Angeles. He worked there for three months. Then he moved back to Freeport.

Later, his manager set up meetings in Atlanta, Georgia. One night, Jermaine Dupri found him playing piano and singing in a hotel lobby. Manuel had attracted a large crowd. Jermaine Dupri signed him right away.

Manuel Seal began working with Al Jarreau. His first big success was with the group Xscape. Manuel wrote, produced, and arranged their first album, Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha (1993). He wrote two songs that became number one hits. One surprise hit was "Understanding". He wrote it in his hotel room.

His next big success was with Da Brat's album Funkdafied (1994). Manuel sang on the main song "Funkdafied". He also created all the music for the album. This album was the first time a female rapper sold over one million copies.

Manuel also worked on TLC's album CrazySexyCool (1994). This album sold 23 million copies worldwide. Manuel wrote three songs on it. He wrote seven songs for Usher's album My Way (1997). This album sold seven million copies. Songs like "You Make Me Wanna" and "Nice and Slow" were on it.

Manuel Seal also worked on Mariah Carey's album Daydream (1995). This album sold 25 million copies worldwide. It is one of the best-selling albums ever. Manuel wrote the hit song "Always Be My Baby". He continued to write many hits for other artists. These include Jagged Edge, Aretha Franklin, Destiny's Child, and Mary J. Blige.

A major success was "My Boo" with Usher and Alicia Keys. This song was on Usher's Confessions (2004, Special Edition). That album sold over 10 million copies in America. Manuel Seal also won a Grammy Award for his work on Mariah Carey's song "We Belong Together". This song was from her album The Emancipation of Mimi (2005).

He continued to work with Mariah Carey on her album E=MC² (2008). He also worked on Usher's Here I Stand (2008). Manuel Seal also contributed to Janet Jackson's albums 20 Y.O. (2006) and Discipline (2008).