French baritone, born in Saint-Laurent, France, of Spanish Catalan descent. His parents encouraged a career as an opera singer, and he the Paris Conservatory in 1949, but left after a few months and began a career as a variety singer. He was hired by Stello Lorenzi for a televised production of La Belle Hélène, and shortly afterwards, Gérard Calvi, who had attended the audition, introduced him to the director of Vogue records, who gave him a six-year contract.

He used "Pierre Miguel" earlier in his career for popular works, and "Micaël Pieri" in later performances of opera.