Multi-Talented Musician: Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars - 2011 TIME Top 100

Bwuno Maws....er Bruno Mars. My bad (long story). anyhow, onward and upward. He was a pick for Time's 2011 Top 100 Most Influential People, which you can read here. He's a singer-songwriter, and he plays everything live.

Mars was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and he always had music with him. Since he lived in such a diverse community, he learned a lot of different music styles, from the reggae and rock on the streets to the '50s classics his dad listened too in his house. His dad was a Latin percussionist who made a Vegas style venue that included all of his family. This included his mother, who was a talented singer, and Mars, who got one chance being on stage in his childhood, sung an Elvis Presley song.

After he graduated high school in Hawaii, He moved to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming a performer. Those dreams were put on hold however, when The Smeezingtons, the songwriting/production team he founded with Phillip Lawrence and Ari Levine, took off. The pair have written major hits in a variety of areas, like Flo Rida's "Right Round", Travie McCoy's "Billionare", K'Naan's "Waving Flags" (Which was used as a theme for the 2010 World Cup), and Brandy's "Long Distance".

After recording "Nothin' on You" and "Billionare" with them as a preview of what Mars has in store, he's released a 4-song EP with Elektrica called "It's Better If You Don't Understand", A lyric to "The Other Side" A song that teams Mars up with B.o.B. an Cee-Lo Green. He explained that The EP is a various collection of real-life experiences.

Bruno Mars is a cool guy with lots going for him, and I think he'll be a great man.

See you around,
Woody