In just three years, Bruno Mars has become one of the biggest names in pop music. He has sold more than eight million albums around the world, and is now Hawaii's most popular export...
for ROCK, RAP, R&B, REGGAE:
Bruno has many musical styles. There's rock, rap, R&B and reggae. Hawaiians love reggae music, and many of Bruno's songs have a reggae sound. Another influence on his music is "Doo-Wop", a type of rhythm and blues from the 1950s. It inspired the title of his first album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans.
for UNORTHODOX JUKEBOX:
That's the name of Bruno's second album. He wrote the songs, but he didn't have a clear plan for the album. "It turned into this soulful, experimental, electronic, hard-to-explain thing," he says.
for NICKNAME:
Bruno's real name is Peter Gene Hernandez. "Bruno" is the nickname that his father gave him when he was two years old. Bruno chose the "Mars" part later. He thought it sounded exciting and energetic, and was sure that a cool name would help his music career.
for ORIGINS:
Bruno has Puerto Rican, Jewish, Filipino and Spanish origins. He says growing up in Hawaii made him the man he is. "Everybody in my family sings, everyone plays instruments," he says. By age four, he played in the family band. Soon he became known for his Elvis Presley impersonations.
for MICHAEL JACKSON:
People often compare Bruno and the "King of Pop". Like Michael Jackson, Bruno's voice has exceptional tone and is soulful and clear. Bruno is a superb dancer and comes from a big family. He is also a big fan of hats...
for APPEARANCE AND ATTITUDE:
Hats are part of Bruno's image. His hat collection includes beanies, caps and borsalino hats. "The hat has to speak to you, from your soul", he says. Another of his favourite clothes are open shirts with jeans. Bruno's appearance shows his relaxed, optimistic attitude.
for RECORD:
Bruno shares a world record with British singer Adele. They are the only artists in history who have had a Number One song with only piano and vocals. Bruno's song is the ballad "When I Was your Man."
for SHOW:
Bruno's latest show is called "The Moonshine Jungle Tour". It opened in the USA and is in Europe this month. Bruno and his band, The Hooligans, will play concerts in Britain, France, Spain and Germany. Many dates are sold out, but it's OK... with so many European fans, Bruno is sure to be back soon!
