BURNO MARS FACTS:
Genre: R&B, Pop, Soul
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Albums: Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010)
Awards:
Hits: "Just the Way You Are"
Other: Co-wrote a notable Cee Lo Green song.
There have been few bigger new stars on the music scene over the last two years than Bruno Mars. The 25-year-old Hawaii native, whose real name is Peter Hernandez, has effortlessly made the transition from songwriting to a successful solo career. He is a promising young act who is sure to be popular for years to come.
Bruno began to persue a music career shortly after he graduated high school in 2003. After he moved to Los Angeles, he quickly found success in the songwriting business. He penned lyrics for a number of famous acts such as Adam Levine, Brandy and Sean Kingston. His first big hit with songwriting was the Flo Rida tune "Right Round," which featured vocals from Ke$ha, another up-and-coming artist, and was one of the most popular songs of 2009.
While he had achieved success in songwriting, Bruno's singing had yet to earn him any praise. That changed in 2010 when he sang backing vocals on B.o.B's "Nothin' on You," a song he also co-wrote. Thanks in large part to his contribution, the song became a number one hit.
While "Nothin' on You" was the first tune to feature his smooth voice, it would certainly not be the last. His performance on Travie McCoy's "Billionaire" (a song he also co-wrote) propelled the song to break into the top five on the charts. Among Mars' other songwriting credits are the K'naan hit "Wavin' Flag" and the viral sensation "F*** You" by Gnarls Barkley frontman Cee Lo Green.
Encouraged by the immense success he enjoyed as a writer and back-up singer, Bruno released his solo debut in October 2010 with Doo-Wops & Hooligans. Thanks to the lead number one single "Just the Way You Are," the album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. The second single,"Grenade," hit airwaves soon after and has been climbing the charts. Bruno went on to perform on Saturday Night Live less than a week after the album's release, and embarked on a tour with McCoy in promotion of the record.
With a soft falsetto voice and an ear for a good hook, it's no surprise that Bruno Mars had a 2010 to remember. With a fresh new album and a headlining tour there's no reason why he will not be a mainstay in the music industry in the near future.