Bruno Mars a Filipino-American and one of the most successful superstar and versatile pop stars of the 21st century, who has won 15 Grammy Awards and sold over 130 million records worldwide1. He is known for his stage performances, retro showmanship, and for performing in a wide range of musical styles, including pop, R&B, funk, soul, reggae, disco, and rock. But how did he become the global icon that he is today? What are the influences and inspirations behind his music? Let’s take a look at his musical journey, from his humble beginnings in Hawaii to his meteoric rise to fame in Los Angeles.
Born to Perform
Bruno Mars was born as Peter Gene Hernandez on October 8, 1985, in Honolulu, Hawaii.
He is of Filipino, Puerto Rican, and Jewish descent, and his mother was a singer and dancer from the Philippines. He grew up in a musical family, as his father was a percussionist, and his uncle was an Elvis impersonator. He began performing at the age of four, joining his family’s band, The Love Notes, as a mini Elvis. He also learned to play various instruments, such as guitar, piano, keyboards, drums, bass, ukulele, and congas. He attended Roosevelt High School, where he formed a group called The School Boys and performed in various talent shows and contests.
Pursuing His Dream
Mars moved to Los Angeles in 2003, at the age of 17, to pursue a musical career. He adopted his stage name, Bruno Mars, as a tribute to his childhood nickname, Bruno, and his father’s surname, Mars. He initially struggled to find his own voice and style as he faced rejection and stereotyping from record labels. He signed a brief contract with Motown Records, but it did not lead to any success. He then decided to focus on his songwriting skills and co-wrote songs for various artists, such as Flo Rida, Brandy, Sean Kingston, and Adam Levine. In 2009, he co-founded the production team The Smeezingtons, along with Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, and produced hits for artists such as Cee Lo Green, B.o.B, and Travie McCoy.
Rising to Fame
Mars rose to fame as a solo artist in 2010, buoyed by the success of “Nothin’ on You” by B.o.B and “Billionaire” by Travie McCoy, both of which featured his vocals. He also released his debut studio album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, which blended pop with reggae and R&B. It spawned the international number-one singles “Just the Way You Are”, “Grenade”, and "The Lazy Song". He also received his first seven Grammy nominations, winning Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Just the Way You Are". He followed up with his second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox, in 2012, which drew inspiration from disco, funk, rock, reggae, and soul genres. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and produced two Billboard Hot 100 number-one songs, “Locked Out of Heaven” and "When I Was Your Man". He also won his first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album.
Becoming a Legend
Mars reached new heights of popularity and acclaim in 2014, when he was featured on Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk”, which topped various music charts, spending a total of 14 and seven weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, respectively. He also performed at the Super Bowl halftime show twice, in 2014 and 2016, becoming the first artist to do so in such a short span of time. He released his third studio album, 24K Magic, in 2016, which focused on the R&B genre. It received seven Grammy Awards, winning the major categories of Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year. The album also yielded the top-five singles “24K Magic”, “That’s What I Like” (his seventh Billboard Hot 100 number-one single), and a remix of “Finesse” featuring Cardi B2. In 2021, Mars and Anderson .Paak, as Silk Sonic, released the collaborative studio album An Evening with Silk Sonic, which delved into 1970s R&B and soul and was led by the chart-topping single “Leave the Door Open”. It received four Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Influenced and Influential
Mars has been influenced by various artists and genres throughout his musical career, such as
Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Prince, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, The Police, The Beatles, and Motown. He has also influenced many artists and genres, such as Ed Sheeran, Shawn Mendes, Charlie Puth, Dua Lipa, Harry Styles, and K-pop. He has been praised for his versatility, originality, and creativity, as well as his charisma, talent, and work ethic. He has been recognized as one of the best-selling music artists of all time, one of the most influential people in the world, and one of the greatest artists of his generation. Bruno Mars is a musical phenomenon, who has captivated millions of fans and critics with his music and performances. He is a Filipino-American superstar, who has embraced his heritage and culture, and has represented them proudly on the global stage. He is a musical journeyman, who has explored and experimented with different musical styles and genres, and has created his own unique sound and identity. He is a musical legend, who has achieved remarkable success and acclaim, and has inspired and influenced many artists and genres. He is Bruno Mars, and he is here to stay. Join Filipino American Musicians, register here!
Bruno Mars. (2023, November 17). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Mars
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