Crystal Waters interviewed in The Guardian
3 years ago
United States Mario, a multi-talented R&B singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor, has built a career spanning music, film, and television since his teenage years.
Mario became the face of Pelle Pelle's European Spring/Summer campaign. This involved various press shots distributed throughout the first part of the year.
Mario endorsed PETA in their "Ink, Not Mink" campaign, advocating against killing animals for fur. He stated, "Be comfortable in your own skin, and let animals keep theirs."
Mario Dewar Barrett, known mononymously as Mario, was born on August 27, 1986, in Baltimore, Maryland. He demonstrated an early interest in music, and at the age of four, expressed a desire to become a singer. His early life involved living with his grandmother while his mother contended with drug addiction. At age eleven, he was discovered by producer Troy Patterson after performing at a Coppin State College talent show. This led to a record deal with Clive Davis’ J Records at the age of fourteen, marking the beginning of his professional career. His musical influences include Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, Nat King Cole, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Usher, and Joe.
Mario’s debut in the music industry came in 2001 with a contribution to the “Dr. Dolittle 2” movie soundtrack. His self-titled debut album, “Mario,” was released in 2002 when he was 15 years old. The album featured the successful single “Just a Friend 2002,” which reached the top five on the Billboard Hot 100. He toured with other young artists and continued to develop his sound, leading to his second album, “Turning Point,” released in 2004 when he was 18. This album included the international hit “Let Me Love You,” which became his first U.S. number-one single and garnered two Billboard Music Awards and a Grammy nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. Mario’s career continued with subsequent albums, “Go” (2007) and “D.N.A.” (2009), the latter featuring the platinum-certified single “Break Up.”
Beyond music, Mario expanded into acting, appearing in films such as “Step Up” (2006) as Miles Darby and “Freedom Writers” (2007) as Andre Bryant. His television credits include a recurring role in “Empire” (2018–2020) and a starring role as Benjamin “Benny” Coffin III in the live television production of “Rent: Live” (2019). He also competed as “Wasp” on season 12 of “The Masked Singer” in 2024, finishing in second place. His career progression includes establishing his independent record label, New Citizen LLC, in 2016, and focusing on philanthropic efforts through his Do Right Foundation, aimed at supporting children affected by parental drug addiction.
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