Bruno Mars rose to success back in 2010 after his hit song “Just the Way You Are” made it to the top of the worldwide music charts. He then won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, his first Grammy, back in 2011.
Bruno Mars born as Peter Gene Hernandez is half-Filipino and half Puerto Rican. His dad, Pedrito Hernandez, is from Puerto Rico and mom, Bernadette San Pedro Bayot, is from Philippines. Bruno Mars grew up in a very musical family: where his father was a percussionist from Brooklyn and his mother was a singer.
He spent most of his earnings in building a home for his mom and provided his family with everything they needed. His mother was his inspiration and his source of strength. So when his mom died of a brain aneurysm on June 1, 2013, Mars was devastated…
Still, he didn’t let her passing bring him down, tweeting some days later: “So thankful for all the love during the most difficult time in my life. I’ll be back on my feet again soon. That’s what mom wants, she told me.”
“She’s more than my music. If I could trade music to have her back, I would. I always hear her say, ‘Keep going and keep doing it.” –Bruno Mars
He said, “You just gotta know that she’s with me everywhere I go. It’s something that you can’t imagine—the pain and the things that you keep going back to: ‘I wish I would’ve done this or said this.’ You just have to see life differently. It shows you the real importance of life. Nothing else matters in this world but family and your loved ones.”
Bruno Mars’ incredible journey
In 2016, he released his third studio album, 24K Magic, with the lead single of the same title released on October 7, 2016. To date, he has sold over 100 million singles and albums worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. Bruno Mars has landed six number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, since his career launched in 2010, attaining his first five faster than any male artist since Elvis Presley.
He has received many awards and nominations, including four Grammy Awards—he was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2011. In December 2013, he ranked number one on the “Forbes 30 under 30” list.
Mars is known for his stage performances and retro showmanship. He is accompanied by his band, The Hooligans, who play a variety of instruments such as electric guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, drums and horns, and also serve as backup singers and dancers. Mars performs in a wide range of musical styles.
