20 Things You Didn’t Know About Bruno Mars

He%20was%20raised%20in%20Honolulu%2C%20Hawaii.

His%20parents%20met%20while%20performing%20in%20a%20show.%20His%20mother%20was%20a%20hula%20dancer%20and%20his%20father%20was%20a%20percussion%20player.

He%20is%20one%20of%20six%20children%20in%20his%20family.

His%20father%20nicknamed%20him%20%22Bruno%22%20because%20he%20thought%20he%20looked%20like%20professional%20wrestler%20Bruno%20Sammartino.%20Bruno%20Sammartino%20pic%20is%20above.%20%20What%20do%20you%20think%3F

He%20started%20performing%205%20nights%20a%20week%20with%20his%20family%20band%20when%20he%20was%20only%204%20years%20old.

He%20stands%20a%20towering%205ft%205in%20tall.

He%20was%20performing%20songs%20by%20Michael%20Jackson%2C%20Elvis%20Presley%2C%20The%20Isley%20Brothers%2C%20and%20The%20Temptations%20at%20a%20young%20age.

He%20made%20a%20cameo%20as%20%22Little%20Elvis%22%20in%20the%201992%20Nicolas%20Cage%20movie%20%22Honeymoon%20in%20Vegas.%22

His%20influences%20include%20Michael%20Jackson%2C%20Elvis%20Presley%2C%20Keith%20Sweat%2C%20Jodeci%2C%20Led%20Zeppelin%20and%20the%20Beatles.

He%20moved%20to%20L.A.%20to%20pursue%20a%20music%20career%20when%20he%20was%2017.

He%20got%20his%20start%20in%20L.A.%20as%20part%20of%20a%20production%20team%20called%20The%20Smeezingtons.%20%20The%20team%20was%20hired%20to%20write%20and%20produce%20songs%20for%20Atlantic%20records.

He%20saw%20being%20part%20of%20The%20Smeezingtons%20as%20a%20well%20to%20improve%20his%20songwriting%20skills%20and%20help%20him%20to%20decide%20the%20type%20of%20artist%20he%20wanted%20to%20be.

He%20can%20play%20several%20instruments%20including%20piano%2C%20guitar%2C%20bass%2C%20drum%20kit%20and%20congas.%20%20He%20also%20sings%20a%20little%2C%20too.

His%20first%20record%20deal%20with%20Motown%20Records%20was%20a%20failure.

Although%20his%20future%20Atlantic%20Records%20manager%20wanted%20to%20sign%20him%20immediately%2C%20it%20took%203%20years%20to%20seal%20the%20deal.

He%20wrote%20songs%20for%20Alexandra%20Burke%2C%20Travie%20McCoy%2C%20Adam%20Levine%2C%20Brandy%2C%20Sean%20Kingston%2C%20and%20Flo%20Rida%20before%20finding%20success%20in%20his%20solo%20career.

He%20co-wrote%20%22Right%20Round%22%20by%20Flo%20Rida.

Far%20East%20Movement%27s%20%223D%22%20was%20the%20first%20song%20featuring%20his%20vocals.