Mario

Mario grew up in working-class neighborhoods in Baltimore County, Maryland. He was raised by his grandmother while his mother struggled with drugs addiction. When he told his grandmother that he wanted to be a singer, he was given a karaoke machine to practice his singing skill. Working hard and focusing on what he wanted to achieve, Mario developed amazing progress in his learning how to sing. At the age of 11, he was signed by producer Troy Patterson and three years later, he inked a record deal with Clive Davis' J Records.

Though living separately from his mother, Mario had much love for the woman who bore him on August 27, 1986. His struggle to stop his mother's addiction and seek help from family and friends were documented in MTV's special titled "I Won't Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom" which aired in 2008.