Bruno Mars night on '60 Minutes' and on the American Music Awards

'60 Minutes' reporter Laura Logan interviews Bruno Mars in Hawaii.

By Louis Chan
REPRINTED FROM ASAM NEWS

BRUNO MARS dominated the airwaves Sunday night on broadcast television with his back story featured on 60 Minutes then an exclamation point with his scintillating performance the American Music Awards on another channel.

First he was featured in an extensive story on 60 Minutes where he talked about his early career at Little Elvis, his life living with his homeless family, the trouble he had establishing his career being half Filipino, one quarter Puerto Rican and one quarter Jewish, and the day his career turned around.

Then if you switched the channel in time, you caught him opening the American Music Awards with his electrifying performance of his new hit, 24K Magic.

At the end of the performance, co-host Pharoah offered up his best Donald Trump performance to compliment the singer. “I love Bruno Mars,” said Pharoah as Trump. “I don’t know what color he is so I can’t deport him.” He continued the impression, earning belly laughs from the audience by saying, as Trump, “I’m going to funk this country up bigly.”

The most revealing part of Mar’s 60 Minutes interview came when he took reporter Lara Logan to Paradise Park, a bird zoo in Hawaii where his dad worked and where he and his brother lived with their dad following the divorce from his mom. Watch that segment below.

They lived there for two years in a building that now has no roof and has plants growing in the middle of it. The three all shared one bed and despite the hardship, Bruno considers this time a happy memory.

“Yeah. We had it all, you know. We had each other and it never felt like it was the end of the world. “It’s alright we don’t got electric today. It’s alright. It’s temporary.” saying, “Well, we gonna figure this out. Maybe that’s why I have this mentality when it comes to the music. ‘Cause I know I’m gonna figure – I’m gonna figure it out, just give me some time.”

He also recalled the time he got fired from Motown and realized he just wasn’t ready.

“It’s simply I wasn’t ready yet. I think everybody don’t know what color I am. It’s like, “He’s not black enough. He’s not white enough. He’s got a Latin last name but he doesn’t have – he doesn’t speak Spanish. Who are we selling this to? Are you making urban music? Are you making pop music? What kind of music are you making?”

You can watch the entire interview on 60 Minutes. In the meantime, enjoy his dance moves and music from the American Music Awards on the video below.

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TGIF FEATURE: Bruno Mars , Nora Jones releasing new songs

BRUNO MARS and Nora Jones, two big-name Asian/American artists, are releasing their newest singles on the same day, Friday (Oct. 7): 

It has been almost four years since Mars last album, Grammy-winning Unorthodox Jukebox; and two years since the mega-smash single "Uptown Funk." The new album will feature 12 new cuts including some collaborations including "24K Magic," that is being dropped Oct. 7.

He's been using social media to tease his fans all week about the new single. Word is that the album will debute in November, if the Hawaiian-born Filipino/American wants to qualify for the Grammy's next year.

It's not like he's been out of the public eye. He's been part of the half-time shows of two Superbowls, including the last one with Coldplay and Beyonce.

RELATED:

• Half-time dance-off with Beyonce & Coldplay
• Bruno Mars and Uptown Funk

In 2014, Mars did a worldwide concert tour, the Moonshine Jungle Tour.

Mars also scored a co-writing credit on the decade's fastest-selling LP, partly penning Adele’s climactic ballad “All I Ask,” from her 2015 album "25."

UPDATED (Oct. 7): As promised, here's "24K Magic," a catchy, danceable song, beautiful women, bright lights, flashy cars, much in the same vein as "Uptown Funk." Have fun!

Enjoy "Gold," another cut from Mar's forthcoming album:

Among the collaborators on the upcoming album is Skrillex, the electonix whiz. “I’m not going to give specifics of what it sounds like, but what we’re doing is so f—king different, awesome and next level and sounds like nothing else that’s happened before,” said Skrillex.

And there's a strong possibility of a song with Missy Elliot since she posted this Instagram:

Meanwhile, Nora Jones, who also hasn't had a new album out since 2012, debuts her new album featuring the single "Flipside" on Oct. 7.

Jones told Rolling Stone "Flipside" was inspired by the political and social tumult of the past few years. "It's been really volatile and crazy," she said in a statement. "I was listening to the Les McCann song 'Compared to What' a lot and was very much influenced by how grooving and amazing it is but also how it's very political and it's just from the gut."

Some of the lyrics:

You saw your reflection all over the news; Your temperature's well past a hundred and two; Put the guns away, or we'll all gonna lose

"Flipside" is part of the Indian/American's (her father was Ravi Shankar) new album "Day Breaks," which will feature some six original songs alongside covers of Neil Young, Horace Silver and Duke Ellington.

Bruno Mars, Joey Alexander, Phillipa Soo represent at the GRAMMY Awards

Kevin Winter

Mark Ronson, left, Jeff Bhasker, center, and Bruno Mars, right, accept "Record Of The Year" during the 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Feb. 15, 2016 in Los Angeles.

HAWAII-BORN Bruno Mars also won the Big One, the Record of the Year, for his performance of Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk.

When Beyonce took the stage to give the award for Record of the Year, Bruno Mars did a brave thing. A stupid thing, but a brave thing. 

“Let's go, Beyonce. Let's do it!” he shouted BEFORE the winner was announced.Now if Bruno Mars had lost, he’d have egg all over his face. Instead, the Filipino/American entertainer just looked cool. 

* * *

JOEY ALEXANDER didn't win a Grammy but he got to perform in front of the nationwide audience watching the telecast of the music world's top awards show. Joey Alexander, at 12 years old, is the youngest Grammy nominee in the history of the awards.

The young Indonesian/American also performed at the Grammy Awards Premiere show which was not aired on network television.

In both instances the jazz prodigy received a standing ovation from some of the top musicians and singers in the world.

He was up for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo at this year’s ceremony but lost out to older, more experienced artists. We will most certainly be hearing more from him far into the future.

RELATED: Who is Joey Alexander and why is he up for a Grammy?

* * *

THE MULTI-RACIAL CAST of the Broadway hip-hop musical Hamilton, which included Phillipa Soo as Eliza Hamilton blew away the audience with their performance of the opening number of the hit show. The musical starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, won in the category of Best Musical Theater Album.

The cast's acceptance was delivered in rhyme, written that night as the show went on. Watch it below. Fabulous.

UPDATED: Earlier versions did not include the Hamilton material.

For more news about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.

TGIF FEATURE: 12-year old jazz prodigy may surprise everyone with a Grammy Award

Jazz prodigy Joey Alexander

JOEY ALEXANDER has the world at his fingertips.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the viewing audience won't be able to watch or hear 12-year old Joey perform and possibly receive his Grammy this Sunday (Feb. 14).

The Indonesian/American wunderkind has been nominated for two awards in the jazz categories. He'll be featured in the Premiere Ceremony, which won't be televised. 

The 2016 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, during which the first of the Grammy Awards’ numerous winners will be announced. Jidenna, Lianne La Havas, Keali’i Reichel, Maria Schneider, Anoushka Shankar and Jimmy Jam are all scheduled to help present trophies, while comedian Jay Mohr will host.

RELATED: Who is Joey Alexander and why is he up for a Grammy?

The 2016 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony is scheduled to run from 3:30 p.m. ET until 6:30 p.m. ET, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, Calif. The ceremony will be streamed live via the Grammy Awards’ official website and CBS.com.

The regular 2016 Grammy Awards will air live on CBS on Feb. 15 beginning at 8 p.m. ET; 5 p.m. Pacific. Carrie Underwood, Sam Hunt and Little Big Town are among the star-studded list of performers scheduled for the televised broadcast.

Since his debut when he was just a 10-year old, Joey has amazed the jazz world. His piano playing and his ability to improvise with the best of the best is mind-blowing. 

When jazz great Wynton Marsalis first heard Joey Alexander play the piano, he was blown away. "I've never heard anyone who could play like him," he told Anderson Cooper on a 60 Minutes  piece aired last December.

For Marsalis, Joey's genius at such a young age remains a mystery. "Why? We don't know why," he tells Cooper. "I once asked Miles Davis about sound. 'Man, how you get the sound you get?' He said, 'Man, nobody knows about sound. Sound just is.' And I think that about his (Joey's) abilities. They are."

All I say after listening to this is: "Wow!"

IN OTHER GRAMMY NEWS: 

• Mark Ronson's and Filipino/American Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk" was nominated in three categories: Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella. Surprisingly, the Filipino/American pop artist's video was snubbed in the Grammy's Best Male Video category despite winning the MTV awards in the same category. Uptown Funk" has a good chance to win in one of these categories after spending 14 weeks as No. 1 in the Billboard charts. But don't count out Taylor Swift's "Blank Space" and "Bad Blood."

• RELATED: Bruno Mars' Uptown Funk

• The Filharmonics, the Filipino/American a cappella group from southern California, are featured in the movie Pitch Perfect 2, which is up for a Grammy in the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media category.
• The King & and I 2015 cast album is up for Best Musical Theater Album and that features a host of Asian/American cast members.

For more news about Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News. 

Dancing in the Super Bowl was a dreamlike experience for choreographer

Bruno Mars and Phil Tayag at Super Bowl 50.

REMEMBER all the smooth dance moves Bruno Mars and his Hooligans performed in the video for "Uptown Funk?" The choreography was created by Phil Tayag, the Sacramento-based dancer who gained fame as a member of Asian/American dance crew JabbaWockeeZ, the season1 winners of MTV's America's Best Dance Crew. 

Remember him? The guy with a mask? Oh, right, they all wore masks. It was part of their trademark look and they never showed their faces.

RELATED: Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk"

Tayag was the dancer known as Swaggerboy, aka "S.B." In an exclusive interview in Billboard,  the Filipino/American explains how he and Mars teamed up to create the video for "Uptown Funk" and how the Filipino/American entertainer asked the NorCal guy to join the Hooligans dance crew for Super Bowl 50's epic half-time show with Beyonce and Cold Play.

"I don’t believe in coincidence," said Tayag. "This particular performance was a very significant one for me because the name that was kind of given to me coming up -- I dance and I do music, rap, produce -- was 'Swagger Boy' a long time ago, like maybe in ‘05, and it turned into "S.B." I’m from Sacramento so I came up in Northern California, and the Bay Area was pretty much like our stomping grounds. This is where I was groomed. Where we stayed in the Bay is where I used to perform when I was 16 years old. Behind where we stayed was this Johnny Rockets where I had my first date. So it was a very big deal to be out here. 

"Coming up (as) this struggling artist, street dancer, garage kid, coming up and, you know, things kind of popped off for myself and my crew Jabbawockeez in 2008. We were on MTV, won America’s Best Dance Crew. After that, that was where everything kind of took off. When we went on tour, I was really only listening to two artists at the time: Coldplay and Beyonce.​"

Read the entire interview here.

The JabaWockeeZ is currently performing in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand. Check here for dates and times.

The white masks became a trademark look in the beginning for the JabaWockeeZ dance crew. 

Super Bowl: Filipino/American football player puts himself in the record books.

Watch Jordan Norwood's record punt return.

Jordan Norwood

A FILIPINO/AMERICAN put his name in the Super Bowl record books. Jordan Norwood of the Denver Broncos returned a punt 61 yards, the longest punt return in Super Bowl history.

He caught the ball surrounded by Panther defenders but apparently, they thought he signaled for a fair catch and didn't tackle him as soon as he caught the ball. Somehow, he eluded the would-be tacklers and ran to the opposite side of the field and down the sideline.

His run set up a successful field goal by field goal kicker Brandon McManus to put the Broncos ahead 13-7 at halftime.

The Hawaii-born Norwood's mother is a Filipina/American. His brother is one of the stars in the  professional basketball in the Philippines.

Oh - by the way - the Broncos upset the favored Panthers, 24-10 in what may be the 40-year old quarterback Eli Payton Manning's last game.

The highlight of the much-anticipated half-time show was the sizzling dance off between Beyonce's army of black-clad dancers vs. Bruno Mars black leather-wearing male crew. 

Fireworks introduced Mars and he started singing his Grammy-award winning dance favorite "Uptown Funk" highlighted by his signature dance moves. Right away, the burst of energy picked up the tone of the performance started by Cold Play's frontman Chris Martin, who inexplicably had mike troubles making most of his lyrics inaudible. 

Then the camera was on Beyonce, wearing two bandolier-looking bands across her chest, and her militant-looking dancers. She sang her new ode to feminism and race relations "Formation," which was released a day before. 

The sexy, tension-building aggressive dancing had me cheering as the camera switched back and forth between the Beyonce dancers and the Filipino/American entertainer's Hooligans. To say the two R&B stars stole the show would be an understatement.

Beyonce and Bruno Mars heated up the stage during the Super Bowl's halftime show.

Afterwards, there was much discussion about the outfits worn by Beyonce and her dancers. She was either paying homage to Michael Jackson, who wore eerily similar costume when he headlined the Super Bowl halftime show; or it was a tribute to the Black Panthers, who were headquartered in Oakland a few miles north of the stadiium because the black berets and leather jackets became their trademark look.

What did it all mean? The colors and the final message put forth by the card-carrying audience the stands, "Believe in Love," made others believe that it was honoring the rainbow flag of the LGBTQ community, which is very influential in the Bay Area political scene.

Who knows? Great art is open to interpretation by the viewer. Entertaining halftime show, nevertheless. All I know, someone has to figure out how to get Bruno Mars and Beyonce back together again.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Earlier versions of this post didn't have comments about the meaning of Beyonce's performance.

For more news about Asians/Americans and Pacific Islanders, read AsAm News.

Super Bowl: The AAPI players on the Broncos; Bruno Mars joins half-time show

Filipino/American Jordan Norwood has the potential to become the unheralded hero of the Super Bow.

IF YOU'RE sentient, you must know that the Super Bowl is being played Sunday (Feb. 7) in Santa Clara, Calif. about 40 miles south of San Francisco. If you follow football, you've probably picked a team to cheer for, either the Carolina Panthers or the Denver Broncos.

If you haven't, maybe you'll watch the game for the commercials or the half-time show. Here's a few things that might pique your interest about the huge sporting event.

The Denver Broncos wide receiver Jordan Norwood, is a Filipino/American whose family originally hailed from Honolulu, Hawaii.

His 6'5" older brother, Gabe Norwood, is one of the stars of the Philippines'  professional basketball league. He plays center for Gilas Filipinas.

Jordan Norwood, though only 5'10," has been a solid contributor for the Denver offense, hauling in 25 catches for 233 yards, and has been a huge special teams asset as a sure-handed and slippery punt returner. 

Shiloh Ke'o and his father Regan.

Hawaiian-born safety Shiloh Ke'o wasn't signed until mid-season because the Broncos had a spate of injuries of players in that position. To top it off, he hadn't played for two years and was preparing for a career change when he got the call from the Broncos after a series of injuries had slowed him down. Despite his late arrival, he's contributed heavily to the team's success.

RELATED: Samoan's 'In Football We Trust'

Ke-o's interception and 22-yard return against the Chargers 
helped set up the touchdown that won the game.

Be sure to stick around for the half-time show, which promises to be spectacular, with Filipino/American pop singer Bruno Mars joining rockers Cold Play and super star Beyonce.

RELATED: Bruno Mars asked to perform at Super Bowl 50's half-time

Mars was reportedly asked early to headline the show but somewhere along the line, Cold Play got the headline spot. It was long rumored that Mars would join the show but it wasn't until this weekend was his participation confirmed on the singer's Instagram account with a picture of Mars during rehearsals wearing Oakland Athletics shirt and cap.

"It ain't a party if Mr $how Up & $how out doesn't show up", Mars said in a caption loaded with Super Bowl-related hashtags.

This isn't the first time Mars played at half-time.  He did a scintillating set for the event two years ago and - up until then - he played to the largest Super Bowl audience until he was dethroned from that distinction by Katy Perry last year.

Bruno Mars was at Levi Stadium rehearsing for the Super Bowl's halftime extravaganza.

The Super Bowl 50 game will kick-off on CBS, 6:30 p.m.(Eastern), Jan. 7 matching the Denver Broncos vs. the favored Carolina Panthers.

The Grammys: Who is Joey Alexander and why is the 12-year old Indonesian/American up for an award?

Joey Alexander, with his mop of black hair and black-frame glasses, looks like any other Asian/American youngster, until ... he starts to play piano. 

OK, we had a pretty good inkling that Bruno Mars' performance on the catchy "Uptown Funk" would garner some nominations for the 2016 Grammys, but the big surprise announced this morning (Dec. 7) is Joey Alexander, whose first album won two nominations: Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo.

You see, Joey is all of 12-years old. At that tender young age, his amazing musical talent is wowing jazz fans and fellow musicians around the world.

(Let's be upfront here. I love music and I know of its impact and importance in our world, but I don't pretend to be an expert or knowledgeable about the music industry. My daughters laugh at my ignorance. So if you've already heard of this young man, I yield to your superior knowledge and I apologize as a johnny-come-lately fan.) 

One of the musicians who plays on the Grammy-nominated album "My Favorite Things" is drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. He's 32, and says that when he closes his eyes in the studio, he doesn't hear a kid. 

RELATED: Complete list of Grammy nominees

"I watched him close his eyes, and I watched his head kind of just bobbing to the side. He has this thing that he does when he's really going somewhere, and I was like, this is freakin' amazing," Owens says, laughing in amazement. "Watching this little kid, he's going on all these harmonic adventures and melodic adventures, and doing some really hip stuff. He's just gone, he's just completely in this next stratosphere. I'm like, that is a gift, man. This kid is literally from another planet."

Born and raised in Bali where his parents ran a travel business, the family moved to Jakarta so that the prodigy could play with Indonesia's best jazz musicians. That is where Herbie Hancock heard him. From there, word quickly spread in the jazz world.

Where did his talent come from? "Well, my dad played a little bit of piano and guitar, but not that professionally," Joey says. "I saw him play and (felt) like, 'I want to play. I want to try this instrument.'"

By age six, he was playing Thelonius Monk.

Joey's parents gave up their business and eventually moved the family to New Jersey so there son could pursue his music. When he's not performing, the young pianist is home-schooled. 

Despite his growing fanbase and the accolades he receives, he seems to have his head on straight, remaining humble and respectful. Like any other 12-year old, he also likes pop music — Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin and The Beatles.

"I'm still me," he says. "I play sports — like, I play a little bit of tennis, swimming, like a normal kid. I watch movies."

When you watch the Grammys on Feb. 15 next year, watch out for Joey. He might be sitting on a cushion. As an Indonesian youngster, he'll stand out in the auditorium full of seasoned music artists, but now he's part of that world. He belongs there. He belongs.

He doesn't want to be known as a child prodigy. "I just want to be called a jazz musician," he told Today Show hosts Lester Holt and Matt Lauer.

***

IN OTHER GRAMMY NEWS: 

• Mark Ronson's and Filipino/American Bruno Mars' "Uptown Funk" was nominated in three categories: Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Capella.  Surprisingly, the Filipino/American pop artist's video was snubbed in the Grammy's Best Male Video category despite winning the MTV awards in the same category. 
• The Filharmonics, the Filipino/American a cappella group from southern California, are featured in Pitch Perfect 2, which is up for a Grammy in the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media category.
• The King & and I 2015 cast album is up for Best Musical Theater Album and that features a host Filipino/American cast members including Conrad Rocamora and Jon Victor Corpuz.

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TGIF FEATURE: Superbowl 50 halftime show: Uh ... Cold Play? What happened to Bruno Mars?

BRUNO MARS, the Filipino/American entertainer, will NOT be the headline act of the Super Bowl 50 halftime show after all. The rumors that Mars would star in and "curate" the 50th Super Bowl halftime entertainment proved not to be true. Maybe they were true at one time, but something went wrong with the negotiations with Mars, whose 2013 extravaganza was one of the most watched halftime productions until last year when Katy Perry was the headliner.

Bruno Mars

Instead, the rock band Cold Play will headline the Feb. 7 NFL spectacle. The rumors are still out there that Mars and Beyonce will appear to reprise their spectacular performances when they headlined the halftime show.

We are so excited and honored and thrilled," lead singer Chris Martin told CNN.

RELATED: Mars asked to headline the Super Bowl show again

Meanwhile, the Mark Ronson catchy hit "Uptown Funk," as performed by Bruno Mars won song of the year and best video video of the year at last weekend's SoulTrain Awards.

The announcement about the British band's selection today was a disappointment for music fans and critics.

Writing at Yahoo Sports, Eric Edholm was blunt: "Coldplay is dull, soulless dad rock that's about as energetic as a dose of lithium. They're everything the kids do not want to watch. Their best days were in the early 2000s as Beatles knockoffs, the suburban's answer to Oasis maybe. This is almost laughable, honestly."

The Twitterverse exploded with negative reactions.

Bruno Mars asked to do Super Bowl 50 half-time show

In his gold lemay jacket and looking like a 50s doo-wop group two years ago at the Super Bowl 48, Filipino American superstar Bruno Mars and his band was asked to perform at Superbowl 50 in 2016. 

SUPER BOWL 50 isn't until February 2016 and the San Francisco Bay Area is already getting ready for the Big Event. Venues are being constructed in the Bay Area, hotels and tourist venues are sprucing up and law enforcement is still trying to figure out how to avoid the inevitable traffic jams.

For the Super Bowl’s golden anniversary, the NFL has asked a big name to return to the stage. According to Entertainment Weekly sources, Bruno Mars has been offered the headliner spot for the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. He would also be the "curator" of the half-time show, which means he can determine what other entertainers he wants on stage with him. It should be noted that neither Mars or his representatives have confirmed the singer's acceptance.

Bruno Mars started his previous Super Bowl
show on the drums

The pop star previously fronted the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show in 2014 with a guest appearance from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Before being usurped by Katy Perry’s turn at this year’s big game, Mars’ performance was the most-watched halftime show ever. This year, Mars’ profile rose even higher thanks to Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk,” on which the 29-year-old Hawaii native contributed vocals. (He also participated in a fake Twitter beef with Ed Sheeran.)

The Hawaii-born Filipino/American entertainer is at the height of his popularity. His video of "Uptown Funk" won MTV's Video Music Award as the Best Male Video performance two weeks ago.

I hope those out-of-owners planning on attending the NFL's Championship game realize that the 49ers' almost-spanking, brand new Levi Stadium is in Santa Clara, not San Francisco. When Taylor Swift had a recent concert there, Uber rides were costing $150 one-way from SF to the Santa Clara venue.

Below, watch Mars energize the TV audience and those in attendance during his half-time performance in 2013.

Bruno Mars: "Uptown Funk" goes downtown at Video Music Awards

Bruno Mars, center, and Mark Ronson, right, accept their Video for "Uptown Funk" Best Male Video.

"WHOA, whoa, whoa - Ye-e-a-a-ah!"

Last night, (Aug. 30) Filipino/American recording artist Bruno Mars won the 2015 Video Music Award for Best Male Video along with collaborator Mark Ronson for "Uptown Funk."

Mars' fans, the Hooligans were heating up the Twitterverse in 140-character spurts last night when the award was announced during the live broadcast.

"Fellas, if you're watching we did it, we did it," Bruno Mars said in his acceptance speech. "To my fans, the Hooligans, I love you so much."

The duo bested stiff competition from Ed Sheeran ("Thinking Out Loud"), Kendrick Lamar ("Alright"), The Weeknd ("Earned It") and Nick Jonas ("Chains") to take home the coveted Moonman, presented by Britney Spears.

I featured this video and song months ago as a TGIF FEATURE, but its worth a reprise, don't you think?. I dare you not to dance (or, if you're sitting at work - moving your shoulders with the beat) while listening to the catchy tune.

Bruno Mars: Uptown Funk

NOTHING insightful or inciting; this video is just for the fun of it.

Bruno Mars 

If I were going to have a party (and I had a fat wallet), this is the band I'd invite. The Hawaii-born Bruno Mars shows off his smooth Filipino moves and natural rhythm. His music is what you want to get your party guests off their seats and onto the dance floor. "Uptown Funk" had me dancing in my chair. Oh, yeah!

It is too bad Bruno's sisters' reality TV series, The Lylas, didn't capture a big enough audience. Coming from laid-back Hawaii, there probably was not enough drama in their lives like divorcing basketball players to capture the public's attention. The sisters are the anti-Kardashians. The Hernandezes (That's the real surname of Bruno and his sisters.) definitely have more talent than the Kardasians. Their mother is Filipino American but their father is Latino.

(I really don't get the popularity of the Kardasian family. They don't sing, dance or act yet they earn millions of dollars. For what?)

Their mother's death while filming the series for WeTV was the most the drama of the show but it wasn't enough to save the Lylas, which stands for Love You Like A Sister. 

Bruno's sisters, The Lylas

The 30-year old Bruno Mars’ real name is Peter Gene Hernandez. The Hernandez kids inherited their musical talent from their parents who had their own band in Honolulu 

Bruno's work has earned him numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy, an American Music Award, a Billboard Music Award and a BRIT Award. 

Since the beginning of his career as a singer, in 2010, Mars has sold 8 million albums and 58 million singles worldwide as a singer,although as a songwriter, producer and singer, his total single download sales surpass 100 million worldwide. He has achieved a total of five number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and six top ten singles, including first place with “Just the Way You Are”, which sold 12.5 million copies and contributed to Mars becoming the best-selling digital artist in 2011.

Bruno's first album "Just The Way You Are" earned him seven Grammys and Best Pop Vocal Performance.

Have a funky good time this weekend!