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Mario Born in Baltimore, MD and now residing in New Jersey, Mario has wanted to sing since he was 4 years old. He worked on his craft singing along with a karaoke machine and plunking out melodies on the piano his mother bought him. By the time he was in elementary school Mario was developing harmonies, constructing melodies and finding inspiration in a range of artists including Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Usher and Joe. |
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As a young teen, Mario was a regular contestant in talent shows. These frequent competitions helped greatly in turning his dreams into reality. Mario signed to 3rd Street/ J Records and immediately began work on his debut; which showcased label mate Alicia Keys. Mario's first single “Just a Friend 2002”, off his debut and self-titled album, shot up the charts and the video was a fixture on BET and MTV rotations during the summer of 2002. Mario began receiving positive attention and response from critics, fans and peers alike. The newfound exposure lead to greater opportunities to showcase his talent to the world. Soon after his debut, Mario hit the road as the opening act for Bow-Wow and followed by being part of the Scream 3 Tour, which also boasted B2K, Nick Cannon and Marques Houston. Mario’s sophomore CD, entitled Turning Point, was released in December of 2004 and has flown off the shelves rising to platinum status in the months after release. Turning Point is the follow-up to one of 2002’s biggest surprises. Mario was just 15 years old when “Just a Friend 2002” was released but seems confident in how his age and personal growth have affected his work. When asked if he’s concerned with making the segue from boyhood to manhood, Mario was forthright. “Any changes that have taken place between that album and this one have all been natural. I didn’t have anybody saying to me, this is what you’re going to do. This is what your image is going to be now. It wasn’t made up. What everybody is hearing right now is me. It’s all natural.” Most recently, Mario has worked on and released his third album earlier this year under his new label BMG international entitled, Let Me Love You. With the title track, “Let Me Love You” a staple on radio stations across the nation, it is clear Mario is the new teen phenomenon, following in the wake of Usher and late nineties boy-bands such as N-Sync and The Backstreet Boys. |
