Mario

Mario Dewar Barrett, known mononymously as Mario, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and dancer. Born on August 27, 1986, in Baltimore, Maryland, he gained widespread recognition as a teenager following the commercial success of his early recording releases. He is best known for his chart-topping hit singles, including "Just a Friend 2002" and the Billboard Hot 100 number-one track "Let Me Love You."

Barrett was raised in Baltimore by his grandmother while his mother struggled with drug addiction. His father was a singer in a gospel group, and his half-brother became a professional drummer. Expressing a desire to sing at four years old, he received a karaoke machine from his mother and learned to play the piano. During his youth, he formed a musical group at Milford Mill Academy. At age eleven, Barrett was discovered by producer Troy Patterson after singing at a talent show, and at fourteen, he signed a record deal with Clive Davis's J Records.

Mario's first introduction to the music industry came via the soundtrack for the film Dr. Dolittle 2 in 2001. In 2002, he released his self-titled debut studio album, Mario. The album peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 and was supported by its lead single "Just a Friend 2002," which reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100. Following the debut, he served as an opening act on the Scream Tour 3.

In 2004, Mario released his second studio album, Turning Point, which achieved platinum certification. Its Ne-Yo-penned lead single, "Let Me Love You," topped the Billboard Hot 100 for nine consecutive weeks and received double-platinum certification. The track won two Billboard Music Awards and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Mario released his third album, Go, in 2007, which yielded singles such as "How Do I Breathe" and the gold-certified "Crying Out for Me." His fourth album, D.N.A. (2009), matched his debut by reaching number nine on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, "Break Up" featuring Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett, peaked in the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum. In 2010, Billboard ranked Mario at number 98 on its "Artist of the Decade" list.

After experiencing album delays and parting ways with RCA Records, Mario established his independent label, New Citizen. In 2018, he released his fifth studio album, Dancing Shadows, which featured increased lyrical introspection and creative control compared to his previous major-label work.

Beyond music, Mario has acted in films including Step Up (2006) and Freedom Writers (2007). His television credits include competing on season six of Dancing with the Stars, appearing on the series Empire from 2018 to 2020, and starring in the live television musical Rent in 2019. In 2024, he finished as the runner-up on season 12 of The Masked Singer.