Biography
Date of Birth
8 December 1985, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Birth Name
Peter Gene Bayot Hernandez
Height
5' 5" (1.65 m)
Trivia
Much like "Nothin' On You", Mars co-wrote the hook for "Billionaire", in which he again provided vocals to go along with rapper Travie McCoy.
Co-wrote the hook for number 1 hit single, "Nothin' On You", in which he also provided vocals along with rap artist B.o.B..
Can play guitar and drum kit.
Growing up, he was widely influenced by Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.
Is singer-songwriter.
His father is of half Puerto Rican and half Ashkenazi Jewish (from Hungary and Ukraine) descent. His mother was of Filipino and some Spanish ancestry.
His father nicknamed him "Bruno" after Bruno Sammartino.
Has four sisters who form the musical group, "Lylas", and a brother who plays drums for his band.
His mother, Bernadette Bernie Bayot, died at age 55 of a brain aneurysm on June 1, 2013 in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was a hula dancer and singer and has been credited with encouraging her children's love of music.
Brother of Tiara Hernandez, Tahiti Hernandez, Presley Hernandez and Jaime Kailani (aka Jaime Kailani).
Bruno Mars has written and co-written songs such as Right Round performed by Flor Rida, Never Close Our Eyes performed by Adam Lambert, Bow Chicka Wow Wow performed by Mike Posner and Love Me performed by Justin Bieber.
At 4 did an imitation of Elvis in costume in show Viva Elvis.
Was signed to one of his record contracts by Aaron Bay Schuck. Schuck is the step-son of Leonard Nimoy, whom he convinced to appear in the music video for The Lazy Song.
Trademarks:
HIgh pitched tenor voice
Often sings choruses in rap songs
Often wears a hat
Quotes
You're amazing just the way you are
I never once said I changed my last name to hide the fact that I'm Puerto Rican... That's so insulting to me, to my family. That's ridiculous. My last name is Hernandez. My father's name is Pedrito Hernandez, and he's a Puerto Rican pimp. There's no denying that. My dad nicknamed me Bruno since I was 2 years old. The real story is: I was going to go by 'Bruno,' one name. Mars just kind of came joking around because that sounds bigger than life. That was it, simple as that.
I think I don't take myself too seriously. You know as far as, it's a fun life. I take my music serious, but I like to have fun.
My background is I used to play (in bands at) bars and pubs. We used to cover Nirvana and sing 'Bilie Jean' over 'Smells Like Teen Spirit.' We did that at the bars and would get everyone going.
I take the artist side of what I do very seriously. I feel it's my job to continue being a student of music if I want to continue being an artist and a producer of other artists. You have to keep filling your mind with other music.
