These 10 things you really didn't know about Bruno Mars
Now that Bruno Mars is completely hip and happening again, we can't help but talk about him. Because yes, if you come out with a new album and a tour after almost ten years, that's big news. And since everyone is so focused on this singer, a few new tidbits can't hurt. You have to do something if you want to score tickets and prove that you're a real superfan.
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1. His real name
If you thought Bruno Mars was the best stage name ever, you are right. Because Bruno? His name is not actually Bruno. He, Peter Gene Hernandez, got the nickname Bruno from his father, who thought he resembled the wrestler Bruno Sammartino. I can understand that, but where does the Mars come from then? Bruno added that himself because everyone said he was ‘not of this world’ during his youth. So yes: the name Bruno Mars was quickly born.
2. He didn't grow up in Los Angeles
No, he is not a born & raised LA'er. Bruno was born in Hawaii. This is the place where he first got acquainted with music: his father was a percussionist and his mother a singer and Hawaiian hula dancer. At 17, he moved to Los Angeles to produce, sing, and write songs for other artists.
3. Bruno had another nickname
Besides being called Bruno by his father as a child, the hitmaker got a second nickname at the age of 4: Little Elvis. He got this due to his amazing imitation skills as Elvis, in his uncle's band, The Love Notes. So Bruno has been a singer since he was 4. And not a small one either: he was already doing two shows a night, five days a week. Talk about insane.
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4. He had his first big concert at the age of five
When he was 5, Bruno already stole the show at the Aloha Bowl Halftime Show for 40,000 people. From the age of 6, he was already on TV at The Arsenio Hall Show and even acted in the movie Honeymoon in Vegas with Nicolas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker. By his tenth birthday, Bruno had already performed 1,000 shows. He is a true professional.
5. Bruno was arrested for this crime
Did you know that Bruno was once handcuffed for possession of cocaine? He had to pay a fine of €2000 and do 200 hours of community service.
6. He lived on the streets for a while
When Bruno's parents separated when he was twelve, his father was short on cash. It got so bad that they no longer had a home. For a long time, they had to sleep in their car (a yellow ’93 Cadillac), on rooftops, and even once in an abandoned bird zoo, where peacocks screamed all night long. They slipped into hotel pools to shower and ate at 7-Eleven. This went on for five months. Once they had shelter again, there were periods when they couldn't pay the electricity and other bills. That's why he worked as a Michael Jackson impersonator to pay for his demos.
7. His record label wanted him to sing in Spanish
When he started in 2003, record labels wanted Bruno to sing in Spanish. They thought he was the new Ricky Martin. But yes, he didn't want that. This is why he chose the stage name Bruno Mars, so he wouldn't be seen as a Latin American artist. Once he had a label, they terminated the contract after nine months and released no music.
8. He lived in strange places at the beginning of his career
If you're not famous yet, you obviously don't have the money to live in a villa. After moving to LA, he lived in various places during his first year, like a motel and a studio in Korea Town that he shared with six other men.
9. He started as a duo and became... a trio?
Bruno struggled quite a bit as a budding artist. Even though he had so much experience, record labels didn't want to represent him unless he made Spanish-language music. When he was dropped by a label, he ran into artist Philip Lawrence. They became friends and decided to make music together that labels ‘couldn't ignore’. A few years later, they teamed up with producer Ari Levine to make music as The Smeezingtons. Bruno's sister, Tiara, decided to help them. She worked in the fashion world in West Hollywood and gave one of his demos to Mike Lynn, who worked with rapper and hip-hop producer Dr. Dre. He flew Bruno into Record One Studios but didn't offer him a contract. This motivated the trio to work even harder. Their big breakthrough came when they wrote a song for singer Flo Rida.
10. He had a 13-year relationship with this model
In 2011, he met Jessica Caban in a hotel restaurant in New York. That night they talked until 2 AM. From that moment on, they were inseparable. In the 13 years they were together, they only appeared together on the red carpet three times. They had a house and a dog, Geronimo. Bruno called her his rock, but in 2024, the world was in shock when Jessica deleted her anniversary post on Instagram. A few days later, he was spotted alone in Tokyo. Early 2025, someone in the comments on Instagram asked Jessica if they had broken up. ’I will always be proud of his career and accomplishments. I do that from a distance now…“ So, a break-up.
Did you know all this about Bruno? No? Then you are prepared for the concert. Here you go.
