Artist Profile: Mario

More than two years since the summertime 2002 release of Mario, which featured contributions by multi-platinum star (and fellow J Records artist) Alicia Keys, 17-year old Mario rewards the patience of his fans with his new album. "Any changes that have taken place between that album and this one have all been natural," he says of TURNING POINT, whose title underscores the artist's segue from boyhood to manhood.

One of the original first-generation artists on J Records, Mario early into his teens when he made his premiere on the Dr. Doolittle 2 movie soundtrack album in 2001. After being introduced to the industry at Mr. Davis' Grammy week party in February 2002 (wowing the crowd with his version of Stevie Wonder's "You And I"), Mario soon completed his debut album.

With plans to attend college, a role in the feature film Destination Fame, and hopes of more acting opportunities on the horizon, Mario's future is bright as is his outlook. "I'm letting everybody know that I'm creative, controversial and not stuck on one thing," he says of TURNING POINT. "I'm ready to do it all."

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