The Youngest King: Bruno Mars' Early Days As Elvis
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Stars are born in the most unexpected ways. For Bruno Mars, the path to stardom started at an astonishingly young age – as the youngest Elvis Presley impersonator the world had ever seen.
His father, Peter Hernandez, a Latin percussionist, and his mother, Bernadette San Pedro Bayot, a hula dancer with a remarkable voice, orchestrated a Vegas-style revue featuring the entire Hernandez clan.
Together, they delivered doo-wop medleys and spot-on impersonations that wowed enthusiastic audiences.
Born Peter Gene Hernandez, he earned his world-famous nickname, Bruno, at the tender age of two, thanks to his confidence and an uncanny resemblance to the legendary wrestler Bruno Sammartino, despite being a pudgy baby.
Bruno’s journey into music started even before most kids learn to tie their shoelaces. At just three years old, he took on the role of the world’s youngest Elvis impersonator, encouraged by none other than his uncle, who was an Elvis impersonator himself.
Mars’ repertoire expanded to include songs by icons like Michael Jackson and The Temptations, and he soon found himself performing five nights a week.
His family’s band, The Love Notes, became the platform where Bruno honed his extraordinary talents. He even made a cameo appearance in the 1992 comedy film “Honeymoon in Vegas” at the age of seven.
In a twist of fate, 24 years after his childhood appearance on “Viva Elvis,” he reunited with Jonathan Ross on “The Jonathan Ross Show” in 2013. The two reminisced about that incredible first meeting, showcasing just how far Bruno Mars had come from his days as “Little Elvis.”
Born from a lineage that embraced music as a way of life, Bruno Mars’ early years were marked by an unwavering focus on the art and the science of crafting hit songs.
His albums and singles have collectively sold over 26 million and 200 million copies worldwide, respectively, making him one of the greatest-selling artists of all time.
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Christina Kohler —
What other famous celebrities started off their careers in unconventional or unexpected ways before achieving stardom?