One of the most versatile musicians of the new era, Bruno Mars is an entertainer in every sense of the word, producing, writing, choreographing and playing multiple instruments. In the world of popular music there is nothing the pint-sized artist can’t put his hand to.
It took Mars a while to make it to the top, working behind the scenes for many years before hitting the limelight. His jobs included backup singer for the Sugababes, song writing for Brandy and an Elvis impersonation, finally gaining him recognition for co-writing Flo-Rida & Kesha’s ‘Right Round’ which reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and acted as a catalyst for his collaboration with rapper and flat earth theorist B.o.B on ‘Nothin’ on You’ and Travis McCoy on ‘Billionaire’ which both made the Top Ten that year.
The success gave Mars the motivation to launch his solo career, making him the first artist in over 20 years to release four consecutive singles that reached the Top Ten.
Mars started his career at an early age. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, as Peter Hernandez, to a family of musicians, he was singing in his uncle’s band by the age of 4, becoming the youngest Elvis impersonator in the region. A decade later he’d follow suit, impersonating Michael Jackson for a Legends in Concert show.
Upon taking his uncle’s advice, in 2003 Mars ventured out to California to further his career, where he met Phillip Lawrence who gave him the inspiration to co-write music for other artists. The duo dubbed themselves the Smeezingtons. Having worked with multiple artists to great acclaim, they collaborated with Cee-Lo Green on the single ‘F*** You’, which became a Grammy nominated hit.
The part Filipino musician then began releasing his own material. His first EP, ‘It’s Better If You Don’t Understand’ launched in early 2010 and his full debut album ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’ followed later that year, producing a number one single ‘Just the Way You Are’. In 2012, Mars collaborated with the likes of Diplo and Mark Ronson to release ‘Unorthodox Jukebox’, his most diverse album to date, featuring lead single ‘Locked Out of Heaven. The album went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album and his success earned him his debut at the Super Bowl XLVIII half-time show, to perform with critically acclaimed Red Hot Chili Peppers. Two years later he was invited back on the same stage to perform alongside Coldplay and Beyonce.
In 2014, Mars collaborated with Mark Ronson once again on ‘Uptown Funk’ which he co-wrote. The song rapidly became a global sensation, charting in the Top Ten around the world and taking home several Grammy Awards including Record of the Year. In 2016 he returned with another huge hit, ‘24K Magic’. Taking his sound back to old school funk, he released an album of the same name.
Having toured the globe multiple times, selling millions of tickets to capacity crowds, the dynamic musician is now a household name throughout the world.
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