Imagine seeing Bruno Mars, for $10 ($7.50 for kamaaina). That was the cover charge, in Aug. 1990, when Bruno was Little Elvis in his dad Peter Hernandez’s group, The Love Notes, performing A “Fabulous 50s” show at the Esprit nightclub at the Sheraton Waikiki.
The accompanying newspaper ad is a gem, an early documentation of Bruno’s magic. I saw this show, back in the day, and yep, he had charisma and stage presence then.
Note, too, that Bruno Mars was not yet his show biz name, nor pictured in the ad. We know what ultimately happened, when he grew up and relocated to Los Angeles, to launch a career that hooked an international crowd.
Were you lucky enough to catch this gig by chance?
HI WAYNE,
YEAH I SURE REMEMBER GOING TO SEE THE LOVENOTES AND BRUNO IN THEOLD(HA) DAYS! I USED TO GET A FRONT ROW SEAT AT THE ESPRIT LOUNGE AND HIS MOM WOULD ALWAYS TELL BRUNO TO GO GIVE YOUR AUNTIE A KISS. FIRST TIME I SAW HIM WAS IN KAPIOLANO PAK WHEN HE WAS RUNNING AROUND IN A DIAPER AND HIS FAMILY BAND WAS PERFORMING. THEN I THINK HE WAS 4 WHEN HE STARTED TO PERFORM WITH THE LOVEMOTES..PLENTY OF GOOD TIMES WITH THEM AND THEN I USED TO GO SEE HIS UNCLE JOHN PERFORM SOLO AT THE BANYAN COURT.
ALOHA DOLORES.
Nice memory of the young Bruno Mars. Humble beginnings and we all know how his story plays out.