Grammy-winning artist Bruno Mars was heard on radio more than any other male singer last year. Yet, despite the success, some critics call him too sugary, too soft and too schmaltzy. But Mars tells Lee Cowan on CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH Charles Osgood he doesn't care what the critics say.
"They can go to hell," he says bluntly in an interview to be broadcast on CBS SUNDAY MORNING Dec. 9, 2012 (9:00 AM, ET) on the CBS Television Network. "It doesn't bother me. It's just 'shut up,' you know? 'You write the song then.' That's how I feel."In a short time, Mars has gone from a singer dropped by Motown Records to become one of the biggest selling artists of his time. His singles "Grenade" and "Just the Way You Are" both reached #1 on the Billboard charts and are two of the best-selling digital singles ever.He was born Peter Jean Hernandez on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. His dad nicknamed him Bruno after a popular wrestler. Music was the family business. Mars grew up with his father and uncle performing in a Vegas-style '50s musical revue. It was there he got his first experience, at age 4, as an Elvis impersonator. When he was 18, Mars moved to Los Angeles, where he joined his brother to chase his dream of being a singer. He landed a deal with Motown Records, but was dropped before putting out an album. Returning to Hawaii was tempting, but he resisted. Instead, he pawned his guitars to get by.Videos