Bruno Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, is a highly acclaimed American singer-songwriter renowned for his captivating stage presence, retro showmanship, and versatility across diverse musical genres including pop, R&B, funk, soul, reggae, disco, and rock. His performances feature his band, the Hooligans, who not only provide instrumental backing with electric guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, drums, and horns but also contribute as backup singers and dancers. Notably, in 2021, Mars joined forces with Anderson .Paak to form the American musical superduo Silk Sonic.
At a young age, Bruno Mars began performing with his family's band, The Love Notes, and became known in Hawaii for his impersonation of Elvis Presley. In 1961, during a performance of Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love", he urinated on himself, which made his parents question their decision to have him perform. However, Mars remained determined.
Bruno Mars's showmanship is inspired by watching performances of artists like James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince. He draws inspiration from Prince's "Purple Rain" performance from 1984.
Peter Gene Hernandez, known professionally as Bruno Mars, was born on October 8, 1985.
In 1990, Bruno Mars was featured in the Hawaiian tabloid shopper MidWeek as "Little Elvis" and performed in the halftime show of the 1990 Aloha Bowl.
In 1992, Bruno Mars appeared in a cameo role in the film Honeymoon in Vegas and was interviewed by Pauly Shore on MTV. He was also featured on The Arsenio Hall Show at the age of six.
Bruno Mars moved to Los Angeles in 2003 to pursue a musical career after graduating from high school. He adopted his stage name, Bruno Mars, during this time.
In 2003, Bruno Mars moved to Los Angeles to pursue a musical career after a brief contract with Motown Records.
Bruno Mars signed a record contract with Motown Records in 2004, but the deal was unsuccessful. Despite this, his experience with Motown proved beneficial to his career, as it led him to connect with American songwriter and record producer Philip Lawrence.
After being dropped by Motown Records, Bruno Mars landed a music publishing deal in 2005 with American record producers Steve Lindsey and Cameron Strang at Westside Independent.
In 2006, Bruno Mars's future A&R manager at Atlantic Records, Aaron Bay-Schuck, was introduced to Mars and wanted to sign him immediately.
In 2008, Bruno Mars and his collaborator sold their song "Lost" to the reunited boy band Menudo for $20,000, allowing them to continue working together.
In 2009, Bruno Mars gained recognition for co-writing Flo Rida's hit "Right Round" and for his features on songs by Far East Movement, Jaeson Ma, and Travie McCoy.
Bruno Mars released his debut EP, "It's Better If You Don't Understand," on May 11, 2010, which peaked at number 99 on the US Billboard 200.
On July 20, 2010, Bruno Mars released "Just the Way You Are" as the lead single from his upcoming debut studio album.
On September 19, 2010, Mars was arrested in Las Vegas for possession of cocaine. He admitted to the police that his actions were foolish and claimed it was his first time using drugs. He later pleaded guilty and agreed to conditions to have the charges erased from his record.
Bruno Mars released his debut studio album, "Doo-Wops & Hooligans," on October 5, 2010, which reached number three on the Billboard 200 and number one in several other countries.
On October 18, 2010, Bruno Mars embarked on a co-headlined European tour with Travie McCoy.
In November 2010, Bruno Mars began his first headlined concert tour, "The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour."
From 2010 onward, Bruno Mars began to co-direct his music videos, starting with those for his albums "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" and "Unorthodox Jukebox."
In 2010, Bruno Mars, as part of the Smeezingtons, was honored by Music Week as one of the best songwriters of the year.
Bruno Mars rose to fame as a solo artist in 2010 following the success of "Nothin' on You" by B.o.B and "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy, both of which featured his vocals. In the same year, he released his debut studio album Doo-Wops & Hooligans.
In 2010, Bruno Mars acknowledged his Hawaiian roots and musical family as influences on his music. During high school, he sang in a group called The School Boys and performed with his father's band, covering songs by the Isley Brothers and the Temptations. He also became known in Hawaiian entertainment, opening for a magic show and impersonating Michael Jackson.
In 2010, Bruno Mars achieved mainstream success through his collaborations on B.o.B's "Nothin' on You" and Travie McCoy's "Billionaire," which became international hits.
In February 2011, Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe announced their joint North American tour, "Hooligans in Wondaland Tour."
The "Hooligans in Wondaland Tour" with Bruno Mars and Janelle Monáe concluded in June 2011.
In 2011, Bruno Mars developed the concept and treatment for "The Lazy Song" music video and brought in Cameron Duddy to co-direct it.
In 2011, Bruno Mars was featured on Time magazine's 100 list, recognizing his impact and influence within the music industry.
Bruno Mars began dating model Jessica Caban in 2011.
In 2011, Bruno Mars collaborated with Bad Meets Evil, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, and Snoop Dogg, and released "It Will Rain" for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1" soundtrack.
Bruno Mars was featured on Music Week's list of best songwriters in 2011.
Bruno Mars appeared in two commercials for the clothing brand Bench in 2011.
At the 2011 Grammy Awards, Bruno Mars won his first Grammy for "Just the Way You Are" and received six other nominations.
Bruno Mars's first headlined concert tour, "The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour," concluded in January 2012.
Bruno Mars signed a worldwide publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis US in March 2012.
In September 2012, Bruno Mars expressed his desire to explore a more diverse musical direction for his next album.
On October 1, 2012, Bruno Mars released "Locked Out of Heaven", the lead single from his album Unorthodox Jukebox. The song was a commercial success, topping the charts in the U.S. and Canada and reaching number two in the UK.
Bruno Mars released his second studio album, "Unorthodox Jukebox," on December 11, 2012, which topped the charts in several countries.
Bruno Mars was nominated for six Grammy Awards in 2012, losing to Adele in all categories. However, he won several other awards, including his first American Music Award.
Bruno Mars released his second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox, in 2012. It was his first number one on the Billboard 200 chart.
Bruno Mars became the biggest-selling artist of 2012, driven by the success of his singles "Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade."
Bruno Mars invested in Chromatik, a digital sheet music platform, in 2012, expressing his support for music education.
In May 2013, Bruno Mars collaborated with Jamaican-American EDM trio Major Lazer on their single "Bubble Butt", which also featured American rappers Tyga, 2 Chainz, and hip-hop singer Mystic.
On May 31, 2013, Mars was returning to Los Angeles from an overseas gig when he learned in the airport that his mother was gravely ill. He immediately got on a plane to Hawaii.
On June 7, 2013, the singer wrote about the loss of his mother on Twitter, expressing gratitude for the support during the most difficult time in his life and vowing to recover as his mother would have wanted.
Bruno Mars kicked off his second headlining concert tour, the Moonshine Jungle Tour, in June 2013.
On September 8, 2013, Bruno Mars was announced as the headline performer for the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show.
Throughout 2013, Bruno Mars's performances, particularly during The Moonshine Jungle Tour, received significant critical acclaim, with reviewers praising his showmanship and ability to engage audiences of all ages. Rolling Stone even included him in their list of "50 Best Live Acts Right Now."
In 2013, NPR Music writer Ann Powers recognized Bruno Mars as "the most valuable pop historian" for his contributions to contemporary pop music.
In 2013, Mars told Rolling Stone that record executives had trouble categorizing him, leading to uncertainty about which radio stations would play his songs. He also revealed that 'Nothin' on You' was rejected because of his race, making him feel like a 'mutant' and marking a low point in his career.
In 2013, Mars reflected on his 2010 drug arrest in a GQ cover story, admitting he was intoxicated and not thinking clearly. He confessed to lying about never having used cocaine before.
In 2013, Bruno Mars won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography for "Treasure."
In 2013, Bruno Mars announced his investment in NJOY Electronic Cigarette Company, aiming to quit smoking for his mother.
In 2013, Bruno Mars achieved the sixth position on Billboard's list of Hot 100 Songwriters.
Bruno Mars was named Artist of the Year by Billboard in 2013, a testament to his successful year in music.
On January 28, 2014, Demetrius Orlandus Proctor filed a lawsuit claiming he held the copyright for the track 'Billionaire' by McCoy and Mars. Proctor sought the destruction of all copies of the recording, asserting his exclusive rights to the song.
On February 2, 2014, Bruno Mars headlined the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show with the Red Hot Chili Peppers as special guests. The performance was a huge success, becoming the most watched halftime show in Super Bowl history at the time.
In September 2014, Bruno Mars announced he was starting work on his third studio album, marking a new chapter in his musical journey.
In October 2014, Bruno Mars concluded his Moonshine Jungle Tour after over a year of performances.
On November 10, 2014, Mark Ronson released "Uptown Funk" featuring Bruno Mars. This collaboration proved to be a significant commercial success, reaching number one in multiple countries and topping the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive fourteen weeks.
In 2014, Bruno Mars was featured on Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk", which topped various music charts.
In 2014, Bruno Mars donated US$100,000 to support orphans affected by Typhoon Haiyan and performed at charitable events, including the Make It Right gala and the Robin Hood Foundation's annual benefit.
Bruno Mars topped Forbes magazine's "30 Under 30" list in 2014, highlighting his success and influence as a musician under 30.
Bruno Mars partnered with the Hawai'i Community Foundation and the Grammy Foundation to create a Grammy Camp Scholarship Fund in 2014, supporting aspiring musicians from Hawaii.
Bruno Mars began collaborating with SelvaRey Rum in 2014, catering events and parties.
'Uptown Funk' by Ronson and Mars faced various accusations and lawsuits over copyright infringement in 2015, including similarities with 'Oops Up Side Your Head' by The Gap Band.
Bruno Mars's songwriting and production contributions, as part of the Smeezingtons, to Adele's album "25" (2015) earned him a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2017.
On February 7, 2016, Bruno Mars joined Coldplay and Beyoncé as a guest performer for the Super Bowl 50 halftime show, marking his second Super Bowl halftime appearance.
Bruno Mars took a major step in managing his career by parting ways with his manager and establishing his own management company, Gorilla Management, in May 2016.
In October 2016, Bruno Mars unveiled "24K Magic", the lead single from his upcoming album of the same name. The song reached number four in the U.S. and achieved number-one status in France and New Zealand.
On November 18, 2016, Bruno Mars released his much-anticipated album, "24K Magic", which debuted at number two in several countries and went on to sell over five million copies worldwide.
Towards the end of 2016, Bruno Mars commenced his second concert residency, titled "Bruno Mars at Park MGM", and announced his third headlining tour, the 24K Magic World Tour, set to take place from 2017 to 2018.
In 2016, electro-funk band Collage sued Ronson and Mars, claiming 'Uptown Funk' copied their single 'Young Girls'.
In 2016, Damien Scott, writing for BET, dubbed Bruno Mars as "the prince of pop music" in recognition of his musical achievements and influence.
Bruno Mars received the NRJ Artist of Honor award in 2016 "in special recognition for his contribution to music".
By 2016, Bruno Mars had sold 26 million albums worldwide, signifying his widespread popularity and global reach.
Bruno Mars released the song "24K Magic" in 2016, which would later inspire the name of his Las Vegas lounge bar.
Bruno Mars's third studio album, 24K Magic, was released in 2016 and received seven Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.
On September 27, 2017, Bruno Mars expanded his Grammy Camp Scholarship Fund, established in honor of his mother, to include applicants from across the United States.
Bruno Mars had his first televised concert special, "Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo", air on CBS on November 29, 2017.
Bruno Mars and Jonathan Lia received a nomination for Video Director of the Year at the 2017 BET Awards for their direction of "That's What I Like."
Bruno Mars continued to co-direct music videos with Cameron Duddy up until 2017, including those for the album "24K Magic."
In 2017, Bruno Mars and Live Nation donated a million dollars to aid victims of the Flint water crisis and participated in the "Somos Una Voz" initiative, supporting survivors of Hurricane Maria and Mexico's earthquake.
In 2017, Bruno Mars earned an Innovator Award at the iHeartRadio Music Awards and a Visionary Award at the Teen Choice Awards.
In 2017, Bruno Mars was recognized by Guinness World Records as the "First Male Artist to achieve three 10-million-selling-singles", solidifying his place in music history.
In 2017, rap group The Sequence claimed 'Uptown Funk' infringed on their single 'Funk You Up' and filed a lawsuit.
Throughout 2017, Bruno Mars continued to release singles from "24K Magic", including "That's What I Like", "Versace on the Floor", and "Chunky" (released only in Australia).
In June 2018, Forbes announced that Mars was America's highest-paid musician of 2017, with an estimated total of $100 million, placing him at number 11 on the Celebrity 100 list.
Bruno Mars collaborated with Gucci Mane and Kodak Black on "Wake Up in the Sky", a track featured on Mane's thirteenth studio album, Evil Genius, which was released in September 2018.
Bruno Mars donated 24,000 meals to support the Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division's Thanksgiving Dinner in November 2018.
The 2018 Grammy Awards saw Bruno Mars win in all six categories he was nominated for. This included Album of the Year and Best R&B Album for "24K Magic".
Starting in 2018, Bruno Mars began collaborating with Florent Dechard on music videos, including those for "Finesse," "Please Me," "Blow," "Leave the Door Open," and "Skate."
In 2018, the lawsuits from Collage and Zapp against 'Uptown Funk' were dropped, though it was not revealed if any financial settlements occurred.
In 2018, Bruno Mars released a remix of "Finesse" featuring Cardi B, further expanding the reach of his album "24K Magic".
In 2018, Bruno Mars matched Beyonce and Mariah Carey as the only artists with three top-five singles in the U.S. from their first three studio albums, showing his early career success.
In 2018, Bruno Mars and Ben Winston received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Music Direction for "Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo" (2017).
At the 2018 Grammy Awards, Bruno Mars became the second artist to win Record and Song of the Year with two different songs from the same album.
In 2018, Mars was accused of cultural appropriation on social media for profiting from black music and mimicking past artists. Various black celebrities defended him, noting his frequent acknowledgment of his influences.
Bruno Mars and Cardi B teamed up again in February 2019 for the release of "Please Me". The single peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, continuing their successful collaborative streak.
In 2019, Mars was placed at number 54 on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list, with estimated earnings of $51.5 million between June 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019.
Bruno Mars sparked excitement among fans in October 2019 when he shared a picture of himself in a recording studio, hinting at the creation of new music.
As of 2019, Bruno Mars and Jessica Caban continue their relationship, residing in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills.
Bruno Mars and Cameron Duddy were nominated for Video Director of the Year at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards for their work on "Uptown Funk" and "24K Magic."
In 2019, Billboard ranked Bruno Mars at number 41 on its list of Greatest of All Time Artists, solidifying his place in music history.
In 2019, Bruno Mars was among the few artists to have spent at least 241 weeks in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 top 10s, demonstrating his consistent musical presence.
In 2019, Bruno Mars was included in Billboard's ranking of Greatest of All Time Artists.
In 2019, Margaret Farrell from Stereogum affirmed that the success of "Uptown Funk" cemented Bruno Mars's "kingly pop stature" in the music industry.
In 2019, iHeartRadio Canada included Bruno Mars in their "Icons of the Decade" list for the 2010s, recognizing his impact on the music scene.
In February 2020, Bruno Mars announced a partnership with Disney for a music-themed movie where he would star and produce. Also in February, it was revealed that Mars was working on his next album in collaboration with Babyface.
Bruno Mars's global success continued as he reached a total of 200 million singles sold worldwide by 2020.
In 2020, Bruno Mars took an active role in SelvaRey Rum's global expansion, influencing its taste, branding, and 1970s-inspired packaging.
In 2020, Bruno Mars donated $1 million to the MGM Resorts Foundation to assist employees during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributed autographed microphones for a charity sale benefiting youth music programs.
On February 26, 2021, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak formed Silk Sonic and announced they were recording an album together.
Bruno Mars, under his designer alter ego Ricky Regal, launched "Lacoste x Ricky Regal," a luxury 1970s-inspired sportswear collection with Lacoste, on March 5, 2021.
As of September 2021, Bruno Mars had earned $604.4 million from concerts, placing him among the fewer than 30 artists to cross the $600 million threshold in Boxscore history.
On November 12, 2021, Silk Sonic released their debut album, "An Evening with Silk Sonic," which achieved significant chart success, reaching number two on the Billboard 200.
In 2021, WBLS acknowledged Bruno Mars as "a dominant force in popular culture for more than a decade."
In 2021, during an interview on The Breakfast Club, Mars responded to accusations of cultural appropriation, crediting his success to black artists like James Brown, Prince, and Michael Jackson, stating that his music comes from a place of love.
In 2021, Silk Sonic won multiple awards, including Best Group at the BET Awards and three awards at the Soul Train Music Awards.
In 2021, Pollstar named Bruno Mars the top hip-hop/R&B touring artist of the 2010s decade.
In 2021, Bruno Mars performed at a private event, reportedly earning $3.2 million. This same year, he sold a portion of his song catalog to Warner Chappell Music.
In 2021, Bruno Mars donated all profits from SelvaRey Rum to Honolulu Community College's Music & Entertainment Learning Experience program and participated in the "Keep Memory Alive Power of Love" gala to support neurocognitive disease services.
In 2021, Bruno Mars collaborated with Anderson .Paak to form the American musical superduo Silk Sonic.
In 2021, Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak released "An Evening with Silk Sonic," the debut album of their collaborative project, Silk Sonic, embracing a 1970s aesthetic in both sound and style.
In 2021, Billboard ranked Bruno Mars as the third Top Artist of the 2010s and fourteenth on the list of Top Touring Artists of the 2010s.
Bruno Mars and Florent Dechard won Video Director of the Year at the 2021 BET Awards for "Leave the Door Open." The music video also received the Best Editing award at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards.
On July 29, 2022, Bruno Mars announced his plans to open "The Pinky Ring," a lounge bar on the Las Vegas Strip, referencing a lyric from his 2016 song "24K Magic."
In 2022, Bruno Mars, alongside Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Shawn Mendes, and RosalĂa, became co-chairs for the "Grammy Museum's Campaign for Music Education" to raise funds for Grammy's educational programs.
In 2022, Silk Sonic began their debut concert residency "An Evening with Silk Sonic." The duo also received numerous awards and recognition this year, including a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
Bruno Mars made history at the 2022 Grammy Awards by becoming the second artist to win Record of the Year three times.
In 2022, Bruno Mars achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first artist to receive six diamond-certified songs in the United States, showcasing his sustained popularity and impact.
Bruno Mars's concert residency, "Bruno Mars at Park MGM," won the Top R&B Tour award at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.
Bruno Mars set a new record in 2022 by becoming the fastest-selling artist for his five shows in Japan, selling around 210,000 tickets in record time.
In February 2023, Brody Brown revealed that Bruno Mars was working on his fourth studio album.
In May 2023, reports indicated that Mars' fourth studio album was nearing completion. Tour plans for 2024 and 2025 were also in discussion.
On October 28, 2023, the opening of "The Pinky Ring" in early 2024 was confirmed, featuring a distinctive atmosphere with live music and DJs.
On November 7, 2023, Bruno Mars partnered with Fender to release a limited edition "Bruno Mars Stratocaster" guitar, inspired by his retro style and featuring a unique color, "Mars Mocha Heirloom."
In 2023, Bruno Mars sold 101,000 tickets for two concerts in Seoul, drawing the biggest audience in the history of Hyundai Card's "Super Concert."
In 2023, The Times ranked Bruno Mars as the thirteenth best vocalist of the 21st century in a list of twenty notable vocalists.
Bruno Mars's lounge bar, "The Pinky Ring," opened on February 12, 2024, with performances by The Hooligans during its initial weeks.
On March 18, 2024, MGM Resorts denied allegations that Mars was $50 million in debt due to gambling losses. Senior vice president of public relations Jenn Michaels asserted that Mars had no debt with MGM and that speculation otherwise was false.
In April 2024, Bruno Mars completed a small world tour, during which he was also working on his fourth studio album.
Bruno Mars is reportedly planning a tour throughout 2024 and 2025.