Bruno Mars facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bruno Mars
Mars in 2017
Born	Peter Gene Hernandez (1985-10-08) October 8, 1985 (age 40) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter record producer dancer
Years active	1990–present
Works	Discography songs recorded songs written videography
Partner(s)	Jessica Caban (2011–2024)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Pop R&B funk soul
Instruments	Vocals guitar piano keyboards drums bass ukulele congas
Labels	Universal Motown Atlantic Elektra
Signature

Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer. Many people see him as a pop icon. He is famous for his amazing singing voice, exciting live shows, old-school performance style, and ability to sing many different kinds of music. His band, the Hooligans, often performs with him.

Bruno Mars grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii. As a child, he became known for pretending to be Elvis Presley. In 2003, he moved to Los Angeles to start his music career. He first made a name for himself in the music world by writing songs and co-founding the production team the Smeezingtons. He became famous as a singer after being featured on the US number-one song "Nothin' on You" (2009) by B.o.B.

Bruno Mars's first three albums—Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010), Unorthodox Jukebox (2012), and 24K Magic (2016)—were very successful and loved by critics. 24K Magic even won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. These albums produced many hit songs around the world, including "Just the Way You Are", "Grenade", "The Lazy Song", "Locked Out of Heaven", "When I Was Your Man", "Treasure", "24K Magic", "That's What I Like", and "Finesse". He also sang on Mark Ronson's 2014 hit "Uptown Funk", which was named Billboard's best-performing song of the 2010s.

In 2021, Bruno Mars teamed up with Anderson .Paak to form the musical duo Silk Sonic. They released the album An Evening with Silk Sonic, which included the US number-one song "Leave the Door Open". In 2024, Mars had two more record-breaking number-one duets: "Die with a Smile" with Lady Gaga and "APT." with Rosé. In 2026, he released his first solo album in ten years, The Romantic. This album featured the number-one songs "I Just Might" and "Risk It All". "I Just Might" was his first song to debut at the very top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Bruno Mars has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He has had ten number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent the most weeks at the top of the Billboard Global 200 chart. Mars is the only artist to have more than 150 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He is also the first artist to have six diamond-certified songs in the US. His 24K Magic World Tour (2017–2018) is one of the highest-earning tours in history. Bruno Mars has won many awards, including 16 Grammy Awards, 17 American Music Awards, 9 Billboard Music Awards, 5 Brit Awards, 7 MTV Video Music Awards, and 14 Soul Train Awards. Time magazine recognized him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2011.

Bruno Mars's Life and Music Journey

Early Life and Musical Beginnings (1985–2003)

Peter Gene Hernandez was born on October 8, 1985, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His parents were Peter Hernandez and Bernadette San Pedro Bayot. He grew up in the Waikīkī area of Honolulu. His father, from New York, has Puerto Rican and European Jewish heritage. His mother moved from the Philippines to Hawaii and had Filipino and Spanish roots. Mars's parents met while performing in a show; his mother was a hula dancer and his father played drums. When he was two, his father nicknamed him "Bruno" because he thought he looked like the wrestler Bruno Sammartino.

Mars is one of six children and grew up in a very musical family. They introduced him to many types of music, like rock and roll, reggae, hip-hop, and rhythm and blues. His mother was a singer and dancer, and his father performed Little Richard's music, which inspired young Bruno. His uncle, who impersonated Elvis Presley, encouraged three-year-old Mars to perform songs by Presley and Michael Jackson.

At age four, Mars began performing five days a week with his family's band, the Love Notes, at places like the Sheraton Waikiki. He became famous in Hawaii for his Elvis Presley impersonations. In 1990, he appeared in a Hawaiian newspaper as "Little Elvis" and performed at the halftime show of the 1990 Aloha Bowl. He also had a small role in the 1992 movie Honeymoon in Vegas and was interviewed on MTV. When Mars was six, he appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show. He performed two shows a night throughout elementary school with his family's band, singing songs by Frankie Lymon and Little Anthony. Young Mars had a small drum set, guitar, piano, and other instruments, and he learned to play them all.

His parents divorced when he was 12, which also ended the Love Notes band. His father's businesses struggled. Mars and his family faced difficult times, sometimes living in unusual places like a car or a closed bird zoo where his father had worked. He changed schools and faced some bullying, but he eventually became well-liked. His Elvis impersonations greatly influenced his music and performance style. Mars also started playing guitar, inspired by the American rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix. He often says that growing up in Hawaii and having a musical family shaped him. At President Theodore Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, Mars sang in a group called the School Boys. They opened for his father's new band, performing songs by the Isley Brothers and the Temptations. He became well known in local Hawaiian entertainment during high school, even impersonating Michael Jackson for $75 per show.

After his sister in Los Angeles played a demo of Mars for Mike Lynn, who worked for Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment label, Lynn invited Mars to Los Angeles. In 2003, soon after finishing high school, Mars moved to pursue a music career. He lived on Mansfield Avenue and found life there to be quite challenging. Mars chose his stage name from his father's childhood nickname, adding "Mars" because he felt he needed more "pizzazz" and girls would say he was "out of this world." He also chose "Mars" to make sure his music was judged on its own, not just because of his background. The music industry sometimes tried to label him only as a Latin artist and wanted him to sing in Spanish.

Starting His Career (2004–2008)

Bruno Mars shared that moving to Los Angeles to start his music career was tough. He said, "I'd always been a working musician in Hawaii and never had problems paying rent. And then it's like, 'Now I'm in L.A. and my phone's getting shut off.' That's when reality hit." He even tried DJing without knowing how, just to earn $75.

Mars signed a contract with Motown Records in 2004, but it didn't lead anywhere. However, this experience helped him. After Motown dropped him, he stayed in Los Angeles and got a music-publishing deal in 2005 with producers Steve Lindsey and Cameron Strang. Strang noted that Mars realized writing and producing hit songs was a great way to advance his career. Lindsey mentored Mars and other songwriters, teaching them what makes a pop hit.

When Philip Lawrence was told to meet Mars, he was hesitant because he didn't have money for bus fare. Keith Harris, a drummer for the Black Eyed Peas, offered to pay for his travel. Lawrence and Mars started writing songs together, but many record labels turned them down. Lawrence introduced Mars to Aaron Bay-Schuck, who would become his manager at Atlantic Records, in 2006. Bay-Schuck wanted to sign him right away, but it took about three years for Atlantic Records to sign Mars because they felt he needed more time to grow as an artist.

Writing Hits for Others (2008–2010)

In 2008, Mars and Lawrence got a call from Brandon Creed, who was looking for songs for the reunited group Menudo. Creed liked their song "Lost" and bought it for $20,000. This sale allowed Mars and Lawrence to keep working, and they decided to write and produce songs for other artists. Creed later became Mars's manager for nine years.

Before becoming a famous solo artist, Mars was a music producer, writing songs for artists like Alexandra Burke, Adam Levine, Brandy, Sean Kingston, and K'naan. He said that the first big hit he and Lawrence wrote was "Right Round" by Flo Rida in 2009. That year, Mars appeared on Jaeson Ma's debut song "Love" and Travie McCoy's charity single "One at a Time."

He became known as a solo artist after appearing on B.o.B's "Nothin' on You" (2009) and McCoy's "Billionaire" (2010). Both songs reached the top ten on many music charts, with "Nothin' on You" topping the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. Mars released his first collection of songs, called an extended play (EP), It's Better If You Don't Understand, on May 11, 2010. It reached number 99 on the US Billboard 200. A music video for "The Other Side" featured singer CeeLo Green and B.o.B. Mars and the Smeezingtons also wrote a very successful song for CeeLo Green in 2010.

Doo-Wops and Hooligans Era (2010–2012)

Mars at a 2010 concert in Houston, Texas

Bruno Mars released "Just the Way You Are" on July 20, 2010. This was the first song from his debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, which the Smeezingtons mainly produced. The song became number one in several countries, including Australia, Canada, and the U.S. The album came out on October 5, 2010, and reached number three on the Billboard 200. It also topped the charts in the UK, the Netherlands, and Canada. Doo-Wops & Hooligans has sold 15.5 million copies worldwide.

The album also had two other hit songs: "Grenade" (which topped the Billboard Hot 100, New Zealand, UK, and other charts) and "The Lazy Song", which was number one in the UK and Denmark. Other songs like "Talking to the Moon" became popular in Brazil. "Marry You" was released internationally, and "Count On Me" was the final song released from the album in Australia. Mars also released "It Will Rain" for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 movie soundtrack in 2011. This song reached number three in the U.S. and number two in New Zealand. He also appeared on "Mirror" with rapper Lil Wayne, "Lighters" with the hip-hop duo Bad Meets Evil, and "Young, Wild & Free" with rappers Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg. The last two songs reached the top ten in the US and other countries.

Mars started promoting his first album by opening for Maroon 5 and OneRepublic on their tours. In October 2010, he began a European tour with Travie McCoy. His own headlining tour, The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour, ran from November 2010 to January 2012. He also co-headlined the Hooligans in Wondaland Tour with Janelle Monáe in North America in May and June 2011. Mars chose to play in smaller venues like theaters instead of opening for big arena tours. This helped him connect with fans and grow his fan base.

At the 2011 Grammy Awards, Mars won his first Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Just the Way You Are." He also received six other nominations, including for "Nothin' on You" and a song he produced for CeeLo Green. At the 2012 Grammy Awards, Mars was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for Doo-Wops & Hooligans, and for "Grenade." He also won the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist, the International Male Solo Artist at the Brit Awards, and the Echo Award for Best International Male.

Unorthodox Jukebox and Super Bowl Halftime Show (2012–2014)

In March 2012, Bruno Mars signed a worldwide publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis US. He told Billboard magazine in September 2012 that his next album would have even more musical variety. He wanted the freedom to create hip-hop, R&B, soul, or rock music whenever he felt like it.

His album Unorthodox Jukebox was released on December 11, 2012, in the US. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 before reaching the top spot. It also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, and the UK, selling over six million copies worldwide. "Locked Out of Heaven" was released in October 2012 before the album. This song became number one in the U.S. and Canada and reached number two in the UK. Other popular songs from the album included "When I Was Your Man", "Treasure", "Gorilla", and "Young Girls". "When I Was Your Man" topped the Billboard Hot 100, making Mars one of the fastest male artists to have five number-one songs. Mars also sang on the song "Bubble Butt" by the EDM trio Major Lazer, released in May 2013.

Mars's second big concert tour, the Moonshine Jungle Tour, ran from June 2013 to October 2014. He also announced his first concert residency, Bruno Mars at the Chelsea, Las Vegas. The tour earned $156.4 million. On September 8, 2013, it was announced that Mars would be the main performer at the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show, with the Red Hot Chili Peppers as special guests. He was the first Super Bowl halftime headliner under 30 in a decade. At the time, it was the most-watched halftime show in Super Bowl history, with 115.3 million viewers.

At the 2014 Grammy Awards, Mars won the Best Pop Vocal Album award for Unorthodox Jukebox. "Locked Out of Heaven" was nominated for Record and Song of the Year, and "When I Was Your Man" was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance. That year, the album also won a Juno Award for International Album of the Year. Mars voiced the character Roberto in the movie Rio 2 (2014) and contributed to its soundtrack with the song "Welcome Back." On November 10, 2014, Mark Ronson released "Uptown Funk" featuring Bruno Mars. This song became number one in many countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. "Uptown Funk" stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for fourteen weeks and the UK Singles Chart for seven weeks, becoming a huge part of pop culture.

Super Bowl 50 and 24K Magic (2015–2018)

Mars and The Hooligans during the 24K Magic World Tour as part of the 2018 Lollapalooza festival in Chicago

In September 2014, Bruno Mars started working on his third album, but he didn't set a release date. He wanted to make sure it was "just as good if not better" than his previous work. At the 2016 Grammy Awards, "Uptown Funk" won Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Record of the Year for Ronson and Mars. A week before that, Coldplay headlined the Super Bowl 50 halftime show, with Mars and Beyoncé as guest performers. This was Mars's second time performing at a Super Bowl halftime show, and it was one of the most-watched ever.

His album, originally planned for March, was delayed for several months because of his Super Bowl performance. Seven songs had already been recorded. These songs were mainly written by Shampoo Press & Curl, a new production team made up of Mars, Lawrence, and Brown, which took over from the Smeezingtons. In May 2016, Mars started his own management company, Gorilla Management. At the 2017 Grammy Awards, he shared an Album of the Year award for his work on Adele's song "All I Ask" from her album 25 (2015). According to Guinness World Records 2017, Mars was the "First Male Artist to achieve three 10-million-selling-singles."

24K Magic was released on November 18, 2016. It debuted at number two in Canada, France, New Zealand, and the US. The album sold over five million copies worldwide. Its songs "24K Magic", "That's What I Like", and a remix of "Finesse" with rapper Cardi B, all reached the top four in the US and top three in Canada. "That's What I Like" topped the Billboard Hot 100, and "Finesse" reached number two in New Zealand. "24K Magic" was number one in France and New Zealand. Other songs from the album included "Versace on the Floor" and "Chunky" (released in Australia). All these songs appeared on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, with "That's What I Like" and "Finesse" reaching number one.

In 2016, Mars began a concert residency called Bruno Mars at Park MGM. His headlining tour, 24K Magic World Tour (2017–18), earned more than $300 million. In November 2017, CBS aired a TV special called Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo. Mars received seven 2017 American Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, two for "That's What I Like," and two for 24K Magic. He also won the Album/Mixtape of the Year award and four others at the 2017 Soul Train Music Awards. At the 2018 Grammy Awards, Mars won every category he was nominated for, including Album of the Year and Best R&B Album for 24K Magic, Record of the Year for the title track, and Song of The Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song for "That's What I Like." 24K Magic also received a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

Collaborations and Silk Sonic (2018–2022)

Mars and the Hooligans in Singapore during Mars's 2022–2024 tour

Nile Rodgers mentioned that Bruno Mars worked on Chic's album It's About Time (2018). In early 2018, Mars also worked with recording engineer Charles Moniz and the songwriting team Stereotypes. In September of that year, Mars, along with rappers Gucci Mane and Kodak Black, released "Wake Up in the Sky" for Mane's album Evil Genius; it reached number 11 in the U.S. In February 2019, he and Cardi B released "Please Me". This song reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and was in the top 20 in Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. Five months later, Mars, Ed Sheeran, and Chris Stapleton collaborated on "Blow" for Sheeran's album No.6 Collaborations Project (2019). In October of that year, Mars posted a picture of himself in a recording studio, hinting at new music.

In February 2020, a partnership was announced between Mars and Disney for a "music-themed theatrical story" where the singer would star in and produce a film. A month later, it was confirmed that Mars was working on his next album with Babyface. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he wrote music every day for his upcoming album. That year, Mars sold part of his song catalog to Warner Chappell Music but kept a small share. His co-publishing contract with BMG was also part of this deal.

On February 26, 2021, Mars and rapper Anderson .Paak announced that they had recorded an album together as Silk Sonic. Their album, An Evening with Silk Sonic, was released on November 12, 2021, and featured Bootsy Collins as a guest host. Mars and D'Mile primarily produced the album, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and in the top five in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. "Leave the Door Open", "Skate", "Smokin out the Window", a cover of Con Funk Shun's "Love's Train", and "After Last Night" (with Thundercat and Bootsy Collins) were released as singles. "Leave the Door Open" topped the Billboard Hot 100 and New Zealand charts. All the singles except "Skate" topped the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, and the album was the second to have four number-one singles on that chart.

In early 2022, Silk Sonic began their An Evening with Silk Sonic at Park MGM concert residency. They received Best Group at the BET Awards 2021, International Group of the Year at the 2022 Brit Awards, and the Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration, Traditional award at the 53rd NAACP Image Awards. Silk Sonic received three awards at the 2021 Soul Train Music Awards, including Song of the Year for "Leave the Door Open." At the 2022 Grammy Awards, they received Record of the Year, Song of The Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song awards for "Leave the Door Open." Silk Sonic also won the 2022 BET Award for Album of the Year and Video of the Year. The video for "Leave the Door Open" received the 2022 Soul Train Music Award for Best Video of the Year.

World Tours and New Music (2022–Present)

Bruno Mars continued his Bruno Mars at Park MGM concert residency in 2022. He also started a world tour with shows in Sydney and Tokyo. The tour continued in 2023 with performances in South Korea, the Philippines, Brazil, and Chile. After a concert in Tel Aviv on October 4, a second Tel Aviv show and a concert in Doha were canceled due to safety concerns in the region. In 2024, after dates in Tokyo, Bangkok, and Singapore, the tour concluded with 14 shows in Brazil. He performed at his concert residency alongside his world tour. The 115 shows reported sold 2,218,000 tickets and earned $359.8 million.

Mars and Lady Gaga released their song, "Die with a Smile", on August 16, 2024. It became his first number-one on the Billboard Global 200 chart. It also topped the charts in Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the U.S. The song won the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance award at the 2025 Grammy Awards and was nominated for Song of the Year. A month later, Mars and Rosé released "APT.", the first song from Rosé's debut album Rosie (2024). This was Mars's second number-one on the Billboard Global 200, and it topped charts in Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. The song was nominated for three awards at the 2026 Grammy Awards, including Song and Record of the Year. It won International Song of the Year at the Brit Awards 2026.

Mars produced a cover of Elvis Presley's "Burning Love" performed by Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm for the movie Lilo & Stitch (2025). In June 2025, Mars was the featured artist for Fortnite Festival's ninth season. To celebrate, "Bonde do Brunão" was released as a single. In December 2025, Mars shared that he and Rosé had worked on another song that had not yet been released.

On January 5, 2026, Mars announced on Twitter that his next album was finished. The Romantic was released on February 27, 2026. The album debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart with 186,000 equivalent album units in the US. It also reached number one in Canada and top three in Australia and the UK. The album's first song, "I Just Might", debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his first song to do so and his tenth number-one overall. It also topped the charts in Canada and the Netherlands. "Risk It All" was released as the second single on February 27, 2026, along with the album. It debuted at the top of the Billboard Global 200 and reached number two in New Zealand. On April 10, Mars began The Romantic Tour, which is scheduled to end on December 8.

In March 2026, Mars signed a global publishing deal with Avex Music Group. Soon after, MGM Resorts International renamed Park Avenue, the street between Park MGM and T-Mobile Arena, to "Bruno Mars Drive." A parade and ceremony took place to celebrate this event, with Mars attending. MGM Resorts also confirmed plans to expand their partnership with the singer, possibly growing his brand presence in and outside of Las Vegas. On April 18, Mars released his first compilation album, titled Collaborations, which included eleven songs he made with other musicians.

Bruno Mars's Artistic Style

Musical Inspirations

Bruno Mars's music has been influenced by Michael Jackson (left) and Prince (right).

Bruno Mars grew up listening to his father's collection of 1950s doo-wop music, which he describes as "simple four-chord songs that got straight to the point." He also listened to artists like Little Richard, Frankie Lymon, Little Anthony, and Jerry Lee Lewis. As a child, he often pretended to be Elvis Presley, which greatly shaped his musical journey. He said, "I'm a big fan of 1950s Elvis when he would go on stage and scare people because he was a force and girls would go nuts!" He feels the same about Prince and The Police, admiring performers who know how to put on a great show. Mars also impersonated Michael Jackson, another big inspiration, and was influenced by hip-hop songs by The Neptunes and Timbaland that played on the radio.

Mars's early music style leaned towards R&B, and he was influenced by Keith Sweat, Jodeci, and R. Kelly. As a child, he noticed artists like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, New Edition, Bobby Brown, Boyz II Men, Teddy Riley, and Babyface. He also listened to 1950s rock 'n' roll, doo-wop, and Motown. In high school, Mars listened to Led Zeppelin and the Beatles, and singers with high voices like Stevie Wonder and Freddie Mercury. Bob Marley and local Hawaiian bands gave Mars his reggae roots. Hip-hop artists like Jay-Z, the Roots, and Cody Chesnutt were favorites and influenced his songwriting. Mars believes each musical genre has influenced his style, saying it's not easy to mix rock, soul, and hip-hop in songs.

Other artists who inspired him include Janet Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Amy Winehouse, Sly Stone, Carlos Santana, George Clinton, and Usher. Mars has also mentioned being a fan of Alicia Keys, Jessie J, Jack White, the Saturdays, and Kings of Leon. When it comes to dancing, Mars is inspired by "anybody that was natural," like Tina Turner, who had the confidence to do what she felt in the moment. He also mentioned Jackson, Prince, and Jackie Wilson for their confidence and stage presence.

Music Style and Themes

Bruno Mars's music is known for its variety of styles, genres, and influences, including pop, R&B, funk, and soul. He also adds elements of disco, reggae, and rock to his work. His first album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans, is mainly a pop, reggae pop, and R&B record. Many of Mars's songs on this album have happy, carefree, and hopeful feelings. However, some songs also touch on more serious feelings like sadness or loneliness.

Mars's next album, Unorthodox Jukebox, like his first, is influenced by disco, funk, rock, reggae, soul, and ballads. This second album is different from the first in its lyrics, exploring themes of romance and relationships. One song, "Gorilla," had lyrics that some people found a bit grown-up. Mars's third album, 24K Magic, was influenced by R&B, funk, pop, and new jack swing. The songs on the album often talked about money and having a good time. An Evening with Silk Sonic is the first album by Silk Sonic, the duo of Mars and Anderson .Paak. This album is rooted in R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, and pop music. It explores themes of romance, making up after arguments, and enjoying nice things.

His Amazing Voice

Bruno Mars has a wide singing range, known as a three-octave tenor voice. Jon Caramanica from The New York Times called him one of the most "versatile and accessible singers in pop," with a smooth, soulful voice that fits many styles. Tim Sendra of AllMusic described his vocals on Doo-Wops & Hooligans as "the kind of smooth instrument that slips into your ear like honey." Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone called Mars a "nimble, soulful vocalist" on Unorthodox Jukebox. Jim Farber of the New York Daily News compared his voice to "the purity, cream and range of mid-period Michael Jackson." On 24K Magic, Karen Gwen from Consequence of Sound said Mars showed off his vocal power, describing his voice as a "clear, unapologetic tenor" and a modern-day "blessing." Jon Caramanica also noted that 24K Magic showed the singer's vocal ability, from soft and gentle to strong and powerful.

How He Writes Songs

Bruno Mars has explained that he doesn't usually sit down and plan to write a song. Instead, inspiration often comes to him unexpectedly in different places. Ideas pop into his head suddenly, and sometimes he can turn them into lyrics. He usually writes songs by playing the guitar or piano. Mars can play drums, guitar, keyboard, bass, piano, ukulele, and congas. He often plays some or all of the instruments on his albums and the songs he writes for other artists.

Mars says his work with other artists has influenced his own music style. He mentioned that "Nothin' on You" had a Motown feel, and "Billionaire" was a reggae acoustic guitar song. He also loves the CeeLo Green song he worked on. He believes that if you know his story, you know he loves all different kinds of music. Growing up in Hawaii has also influenced his style, giving his songs a reggae sound. He explained that in Hawaii, reggae is very popular and brings people together, making it easy for the music to cross over to different audiences.

While his music partner Philip Lawrence has said Mars has a more serious side, most of his music is romantic. Mars jokes that he blames this on singing to girls in high school. Brody Brown, who has worked with Mars, said that Mars is in charge of the melody and lyrics for his songs. Brown usually handles the music, but Mars creates both the music and the words.

Bruno Mars's Amazing Performances

Mars and the Hooligans performing with strobe lights

Bruno Mars is famous for his old-school performance style, which critics highly praise. Deanna Ramsay of The Jakarta Post called Mars a "truly global star." Jim Sullivan of the Boston Herald compared Mars's stage presence to that of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley. Kevin Johnson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch called Mars a "consummate performer." Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe said Mars shows an "indefatigable ecstatic approach to performing" and "classic showmanship." Jim Farber of the Daily News noted that Mars's Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show brought "old-school showmanship to [a] dynamic performance."

When he was younger, Mars watched videos of Elvis, James Brown, and Michael Jackson. Now, before his shows, he watches performances by James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, or Prince. In 2025, John Fossitt, the keyboard player in The Hooligans, shared that Mars watches videos of Brown and Jackson to learn how they interact with the audience during live shows.

During the Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour, Ara Jansan of The West Australian called the show "one of the most creative and exciting displays of musical artistry" she had seen and noted that it attracted a wide range of ages. On the Hooligans in Wondaland Tour, Robert Ham of the Oregonian observed that Mars kept the audience's attention throughout the concert and showed impressive guitar skills. During the Moonshine Jungle Tour, Jason Lipshutz of Billboard described Mars's performance as "entertaining... and he does a better job at it than almost anyone working in music right now." Rolling Stone ranked Mars 35th on its list of 50 Best Live Acts Right Now in 2013, saying, "Anyone from the age of 5 to 95 can walk out of a Bruno Mars concert feeling like the show was designed just for them." They praised his old-school style, energetic band, and drum solos. NFL executives Sarah Moll and Tracy Perlman noted that his concerts attract "11-year-old girls to 65-year-old women." The 24K Magic World Tour was highly praised for its showmanship, guitar skills, and stage production. The tour won several awards, including two Pollstar awards and two Billboard Music Awards. The Bruno Mars at Park MGM residency won Top R&B Tour at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. As of 2024, it is one of the highest-earning residencies, grossing $154.8 million.

Mars's concerts feature The Hooligans, his band, which includes a guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist, and horn section. They also dance and sing backup. Critics have noted how the live band and arrangements make the songs sound even better than on the albums. The shows include synchronized dancing by the whole band, with Mars performing footwork inspired by James Brown and even splits. The shows are influenced by disco and have a soul-revue feel, with long, smooth musical breaks that remind people of 1990s R&B. The set lists mix many genres, including pop, doo-wop, funk, R&B, soul, and reggae. Mars's shows often include pyrotechnics, strobe and laser lights, and he plays drums and guitar. In 2021, Pollstar named Mars the top hip-hop/R&B touring artist of the 2010s.

Bruno Mars's Music Videos

Bruno Mars has worked with many directors to create his music videos, and he has also become a music video director himself. From 2010 to 2017, Mars co-directed ten music videos from his albums Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Unorthodox Jukebox, and 24K Magic, as well as singles, with Cameron Duddy. In 2011, Mars came up with the idea for "The Lazy Song" video and brought in Duddy to co-direct it. Duddy mentioned that he and Mars sometimes argue when making videos, but he believes the best collaborations come from different ideas, and they always find a way to agree.

In 2018, Mars co-directed the music video for "Finesse" with Florent Dechard. He also worked with Dechard on videos for "Please Me", "Blow", "Leave the Door Open", and "Skate". In 2024, Mars co-directed a commercial for the Don Quijote campaign with Daniel Ramos. The singer also collaborated with Ramos on music videos for "Die with a Smile", "APT.", and "Fat, Juicy and Wet".

Mars, who choreographed the video for "Treasure", received the Best Choreography award at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Mars and Duddy's work was recognized at several awards shows, including two nominations for an MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction (for "Uptown Funk" and "24K Magic"). Mars's collaborations with Dechard earned them a nomination for Video Director of the Year at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards. In 2017, "That's What I Like" (directed by Mars and Jonathan Lia) led to a nomination at the BET Awards 2017 for Video Director of the Year. The following year, Mars and Ben Winston's direction of Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo (2017) earned them a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction. Mars and Dechard directed the video for "Leave the Door Open" in 2021, for which they received the BET Award for Video Director of the Year award. The video also won the 2021 MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing. In 2025, Mars and Ramos directed the videos for "Die with a Smile" and "APT." "Die with a Smile" won Favorite Music Video at the American Music Awards, while "APT." received a Best Collaboration Video (International) at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards Japan.

Bruno Mars's Style and Fashion

Bruno Mars often wears outfits inspired by past decades, matching his fashion to the style of his music. For Doo-Wops and Hooligans, he wore 1960s-inspired suits and had a faded haircut. For 24K Magic, Mars channeled the 1980s and 1990s in both his sound and look. He even had a dress code in the studio while recording that album, preferring jewelry and "fine clothes" over sweatpants to help create "groovy, smooth and soulful songs." When Mars collaborated with Anderson .Paak on Silk Sonic in 2021, he wore "wide collars, leisure suits, and funky patterns" common in the 1970s, which perfectly complemented their music. For InStyle magazine, Tessa Petak wrote that "Regardless of the decade he's emulating, Mars's fashion sense and stage presence make him larger-than-life."

The Hooligans: Bruno Mars's Band

• Bruno Mars – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards (2010–present), congas (2026–present)
• Jamareo Artis – bass guitar (2010–present)
• Eric Hernandez – drums (2010–present)
• Kameron Whalum – trombone (2010–present), backing vocals (2018–present)
• Dwayne Dugger – saxophone (2010–present), keyboard (2017–present)
• James King – trumpet (2010–present), backing vocals (2018–present)
• John Fossitt – keyboards (2012–present)
• Enrique Sanchez – trumpet (2026–present)
• Daniel Rodriguez – congas, percussion (2026–present)
• Chris Payton – guitar (2026–present)
• Marcus Paul – background vocals (2026–present)
• Quintin Gulledge – keyboards, talkbox (2026–present)

Former Members

• Philip Lawrence – backing vocals (2010–2018, 2022–2025)
• Kenji Chan – guitars (2010–2012)
• Phredley Brown – guitars (2012–2022), keyboards (2010–2012), backing vocals (2010–2022)
• Mateus Asato – guitars (2019, 2021, 2022–2023)
• Luke Kennedy Aiono – guitars (2023–2025)

Timeline of The Hooligans

Other Projects and Partnerships

Endorsements and Collaborations

Bruno Mars appeared in two commercials for Bench in 2011. He and model Joan Smalls were photographed in 1950s-inspired suits for Vogue magazine. The next year, Mars invested in Chromatik, a company that makes digital sheet music for the web and iPad. He said, "I love that Chromatik will bring better music education into schools... And I'm happy to be a part of it." In 2013, Mars tweeted a picture of himself using an electronic cigarette. A press release stated he invested in the NJOY electronic-cigarette company to help him stop smoking for his mother. He believed in the product and the company's mission. Chromatik and NJOY have since been acquired by other companies.

In 2014, SelvaRey Rum began catering events and parties for Mars. He was introduced to the brand by co-founder Seth Gold the following year and invested an undisclosed amount. In 2020, Mars helped redesign the rum's taste, branding, and packaging in a 1970s style. At that time, Mars, Seth and Marc Gold, and Robert Herzig co-owned the brand.

Mars released Lacoste x Ricky Regal, a fancy 1970s-inspired sportswear line with Lacoste, on March 5, 2021. He worked with Lacoste's creative director, Louise Trotter, to create a clothing line that mixed his personality with Lacoste sportswear. He was involved in every step of the collection. When Mars and Trotter started working, he created an "alter ego" named Ricky Regal to help him think like a designer.

On July 29, 2022, Mars was preparing to open The Pinky Ring, a lounge bar on the Las Vegas Strip at the Bellagio. Its name came from the lyrics of his song "24K Magic" (2016). In October 2023, it was announced that the bar would open in early 2024. It was planned to have "moody" lighting, special drinks, live music, and DJs. The Pinky Ring opened on February 12, 2024, with The Hooligans performing every night for its first two weeks. Mars wore a pinky ring to celebrate the opening, created by Tiffany & Co. in yellow gold with the Pinky Ring initials framed in white diamonds.

Mars's partnership with Fender for the "Bruno Mars Stratocaster" was announced on November 7, 2023. This was a limited-edition Fender Stratocaster guitar in a color called "Mars Mocha Heirloom." The guitar was inspired by Mars's "retro style and showmanship." It included a "'69 neck profile modeled on Mars's own '69 Strat," "custom-voiced Fender Mars pickups," and a leopard print strap, honoring two of Mars's favorite guitar players, Jimi Hendrix and Prince. Mars said, "I don't think of myself as a guitar player. Every song is like a puzzle you have to solve, and a good guitar can bring something out of you that can help take you to the finish line."

In August 2024, Mars appeared in a commercial for the Japanese discount store Don Quijote. He and dancers Miyu, Haruka, Miyuri, and miku, along with the store mascot Donpen, danced around the Mega Don Quijote store in Shibuya while picking up items from their own brand. Mars wrote the jingle and shared the commercial on his Instagram. The collaboration also included limited-edition merchandise.

In September 2024, Mars (as Ricky Regal) partnered with Stetson to release a new hat style inspired by the American heritage brand's early designs. Available in different colors, it included a "gold-toned horseshoe pin with rhinestones" and a special "Stetson x Ricky Regal liner featuring a red rose." Mars designed the hat for the collection. In December 2024, Mars and Hello Kitty collaborated to celebrate Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary and the opening of Mars's Park MGM residency. Limited-edition merchandise and themed food and drinks were available at Park MGM's Hello Kitty Cafe, and a Hello Kitty meet-and-greet was held that month. In June 2025, Regal and Stetson released a new cowboy hat, the "Regal 10X Straw." In June 2025, he was the featured artist for Season 9 of the Fortnite Festival, introducing special items within the game.

On January 30, 2026, Mars was announced as the 2026 Record Store Day ambassador. To celebrate the day's special releases at participating record shops, Mars released Collaborations, a collection of his collaborative hit songs. In March 2026, Mars, as part of his Ricky Regal collaboration with Stetson, released 100 "cowboy hats" in black or fawn. The Regal Range 6x hat featured a "rose motif and lettering that matches the aesthetic of The Romantic." It also included a "gold-toned, rhinestone-studded horseshoe pin and removable feather details." Hello Kitty and Mars partnered for select stops during Mars's The Romantic Tour (2026), including Las Vegas, Chicago, and Toronto. The Mars pop-up shop included the full "Hello Kitty x Bruno Mars" exclusive collection, inspired by the tour with Kitty's character and Mars's style. Fans could also enjoy Kitty and Mars-inspired cafe activities, themed food and beverages, and a chance to meet Kitty. The first pop-up shop opened on April 9 at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place in Las Vegas.

Giving Back: Philanthropy

In 2014, Bruno Mars partnered with the Hawai'i Community Foundation and the Grammy Foundation. They created a Grammy Camp Scholarship Fund to help students from Hawaii who needed financial assistance to attend music camps. On September 27, 2017, he expanded this scholarship to include applicants from all over the United States. Mars started this partnership in honor of his mother.

In 2014, Mars donated $100,000 to the orphans of Bantay Bata, who were affected by Typhoon Haiyan. He performed at the Make It Right concert, which aimed to "help build homes for people in need," and at the Robin Hood Foundation's 2014 annual event to "fight poverty in New York City." In 2017, Mars and Live Nation donated one million dollars from a show in Auburn Hills, Michigan, to help victims of the Flint water crisis. Mars also took part in the "Somos Una Voz" relief effort to help survivors of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and Mexico's earthquake.

In 2018, he donated 24,000 meals to the Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division's 48th annual Thanksgiving Dinner. In 2020, Mars donated $1 million to the MGM Resorts Foundation to help MGM employees who faced financial difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That same year, Mars and other artists donated signed microphones to the music-gear marketplace Reverb.com for sale, with all money going to ten youth music education programs affected by the pandemic.

Until the end of 2021, Mars donated all profits from SelvaRey Rum to Honolulu Community College's Music & Entertainment Learning Experience. That year, he was part of the Keep Memory Alive Power of Love event. The money raised supported services and care for patients with brain diseases and their caregivers. In 2022, Mars, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Shawn Mendes, and Rosalía were named co-chairs for the Grammy Museum's Campaign for Music Education. This campaign raised money for educational programs and gave free admission to the Los Angeles Grammy Museum for people under 18 and college students.

In 2024, Mars performed a charity concert sponsored by Budweiser Brasil in São Paulo to help victims of the 2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods. In 2026, the singer made a donation to the future Intermountain Health Nevada Children's Hospital as he was honored in Las Vegas.

Bruno Mars's Impact on Music

Bruno Mars has been called a "pop icon" by many publications. Michael Cragg of The Guardian described "the Bruno Mars strategy" as a "songwriter turned popstar" who writes and produces hit songs for other artists and then sometimes appears with them, often becoming more famous than the main artist. Amanda Petrusich of The New Yorker called Mars "arguably one of the most instinctive and enthralling showmen of his generation." Fuse TV credited him with bringing "the funkalicious vibes of retro pop and R&B back to modern music" in 2017, and The Independent later called him the "king of retro crooning." In 2013, NPR Music writer Ann Powers called Mars "the most valuable pop historian" of the time. For BET in 2016, Damien Scott called Mars "the prince of pop music." In 2019, Margaret Farrell of Stereogum said that the success of "Uptown Funk" cemented Mars's "kingly pop stature."

A 2018 Billboard article stated that no male artist in pop music during the 2010s had a longer streak of success than Mars. Slate considered him "the most consistent male pop star of the 2010s." In 2021, WBLS said that Mars "has been a dominant force in popular culture for more than a decade." Two years later, The Times ranked Mars thirteenth among the 20 best vocalists of the 21st century. The New York Times and Toronto Star described "Uptown Funk" as one of the most recognizable pop songs of the century. Regarding Mars's Puerto Rican roots and how he was labeled, Remezcla said that he was "the first proud Latino artist to make it" to the "top of international pop culture" without following the music industry's "cynical labels game" and being put into a box. His music and performances have inspired many artists, including AJ Mitchell, Thomas Rhett, Dua Lipa, Benny Dayal, Rauw Alejandro, KiDi, Lee Brice, Shawn Mendes, Selena Gomez, Meghan Trainor, and Victoria Monét.

Mars was named Billboard's 2013 Artist of the Year and was an NRJ Artist of Honor in 2016 for his contributions to music. The singer received an Innovator Award at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards and a Visionary Award at the 2017 Teen Choice Awards. iHeartRadio Canada listed Mars as one of its "Icons of the Decade" in 2019, and Insider gave him an honorable mention on its 2010s list. In 2021, Billboard ranked Mars the third Top Artist of the 2010s and 14th on its list of Top Touring Artists of the 2010s. Three years later, he was ranked 20th on Billboard's Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st-century list. Kyle Dines called Mars "one of the century's great writers, performers and hitmakers, who essentially arrived to early-'10s pop already on top of the world and has scarcely left his perch since."

Awards and Achievements

Bruno Mars has received many awards and honors, including 16 Grammy Awards, 14 American Music Awards, 5 Brit Awards, 14 Soul Train Music Awards, and 10 Guinness World Records. At the 2018 Grammys, Mars was the second artist to win Record and Song of the Year with two songs from the same album. At the 2022 Grammys, he was the second artist to win Record of the Year three times. As of 2025, Mars holds the record for most nominations as a male artist for Record (eight) and Song of the Year (seven). In 2013, Billboard ranked him sixth on its list of Hot 100 Songwriters, and in 2019, he was number 41 on the list of greatest all-time artists. In 2025, he made Billboard's list of Top Songwriters of the 21st Century on the Hot 100, placed at number 10. Mars's former songwriting and production team, the Smeezingtons, received several awards, including best songwriters of 2010 by Music Week. Time magazine included him on their annual Time 100 list in 2011.

"Just The Way You Are" spent 20 weeks on the Adult Contemporary chart in the U.S., which was the longest debut. "When I Was Your Man" was the country's second number-one song featuring only piano and vocals. Mars is the first male artist to have two songs as a lead act in the U.S. top 10 at the same time. He has ten number-one singles in the U.S. In 2018, he matched Beyonce and Mariah Carey as the only artists with three top-five singles in the U.S. from their first three albums. Mars, Sheeran, and Jewel are the only artists with two songs that spent at least half a year in the U.S. top 10. In 2025, he was the first artist to spend 30 weeks at number one on the Billboard Global 200. He held both the number one and two spots on the Global 200 year-end list of 2025. Mars also became the fourth act in the US to top Billboard Hot 100 Year-End lists twice. In 2024 and 2025, Mars was recognized in Billboard's Honorable Mentions for Greatest Pop Stars. In 2026, Mars became one of the artists with most number-one hits on Digital Song Sales. He was the first solo male artist with twelve number-ones on the U.S. Mainstream Top 40 chart. Mars is among the artists with most weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2012, "Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade" were the best-selling digital singles of the year, with sales of 12.5 million and 10.2 million, respectively. Mars was the biggest-selling artist that year. "Just The Way You Are", "Grenade", "Locked Out Of Heaven", and "When I Was Your Man" have each sold over 4 million digital copies, making him the first male artist to achieve this as a lead singer. Six of his singles appeared on multiple year-end top global singles lists published by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Mars has sold over 150 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. "Uptown Funk" and "Grenade" were listed by several publications as among the best songs of the decade. In 2022, he was the first artist with six Diamond-certified songs in the U.S.

Because of ticket reselling after Mars's 2014 Super Bowl performance, Hawaii Senate president Donna Mercado Kim introduced Senate Resolution 12 (also known as the Bruno Mars Act). This law aimed to limit ticket purchases within 48 hours of the on-sale date to physical box offices, to discourage ticket scalping. The Hawaii state senate passed the law, but it did not become final. Billboard reported in September 2021 that Mars earned $604.4 million from concerts, making him one of fewer than 30 artists to cross the $600-million mark.

Mars was the fastest-selling artist for his five 2022 shows in Japan, selling about 210,000 tickets. He sold 101,000 tickets for two concerts in Seoul the following year, which was the largest audience for Hyundai Card's Super Concert. In 2024, Mars was the first artist since Michael Jackson to sell out seven shows at the 55,000-capacity Tokyo Dome. His two concerts in Taiwan attracted 157,000 people. Mars played 14 concerts in Brazil that year, breaking RBD's 2006 record of 13 shows for an international artist.

In early 2025, after the release of "Die With a Smile" with Lady Gaga and "APT." with Rosé, Mars had a record 150 million monthly listeners on Spotify. He was the second artist (after Sabrina Carpenter) "to replace himself at number one and take the top two spots" at the same time on the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excluding United States charts. He also had the biggest debut by a male artist on the Global 200. "APT." was the first song with at least 200 million streams globally in multiple weeks on both charts. "Die with a Smile" and "APT." spent 18 and 12 weeks at number one on the Global 200, respectively. "APT." also spent a record-breaking 19 weeks at the top of the Global Excluding United States chart, while "Die with a Smile" spent 17 weeks atop the same chart. In April 2026, Mars received the key to the Las Vegas Strip, and Park Avenue outside Park MGM was renamed to Bruno Mars Drive.

Bruno Mars's Personal Life

Family and Relationships

Bruno Mars's brother, Eric Hernandez, is the drummer for his backup band, The Hooligans. Their sisters, Tiara, Tahiti, and Presley, and their cousin, Jamie, make up the all-girl group Lylas. When she was young, Jamie moved in with the siblings due to family issues. Mars began dating model Jessica Caban in 2011. The couple lived in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills with their dog, Geronimo. In January 2025, Caban confirmed that they had split up.

On May 31, 2013, Mars was returning to Los Angeles from overseas when he learned at the airport that his mother was gravely ill. He immediately flew to Hawaii. His mother passed away at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu the next day at age 55 due to complications from a brain aneurysm. On June 7, 2013, the singer wrote on Twitter about the loss of his mother, expressing gratitude for the love he received and saying he would be back on his feet soon, as his mom would have wanted.

Discussing His Background

In 2013, Bruno Mars told Rolling Stone that record executives "had trouble categorizing him" and were unsure which radio stations would play his songs or to which different audiences he would appeal. That May, he said that "Nothin' on You" was initially rejected by a "music industry decision-maker" because of his background. This experience made him feel misunderstood, and he said it was a very low point for him.

In 2018, some people on social media discussed whether his music style, which draws from many different genres, was always respectful of its origins. They wondered if his mixed background played a role in how his music was received. However, many Black celebrities, including Stevie Wonder, Charlie Wilson, 9th Wonder, Marjua Estevez, and Stereo Williams, disagreed with these discussions. Mars has often spoken about his influences and has credited several Black artists, including Babyface, Teddy Riley, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. During a 2021 interview on The Breakfast Club, Mars responded to the discussions by saying, "The only reason why I'm here is because of James Brown, is because of Prince, Michael [Jackson]... This music comes from love and if you can't hear that, then I don't know what to tell you." In 2025, similar discussions arose again regarding his song "Bonde do Brunão".

Bruno Mars's Music Albums

Solo Studio Albums

• Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010)
• Unorthodox Jukebox (2012)
• 24K Magic (2016)
• The Romantic (2026)

Collaborative Studio Albums

• An Evening with Silk Sonic (with Anderson .Paak, as Silk Sonic) (2021)

Bruno Mars in Movies

• Honeymoon in Vegas (1992)
• Rio 2 (2014)

Bruno Mars's Tours and Residencies

See also

In Spanish: Bruno Mars para niños

• List of best-selling singles in the United States
• List of Billboard Hot 100 chart achievements and milestones
• List of highest-certified music artists in the United States
• List of highest-grossing concert tours
• List of most-followed Twitter accounts