Having grown up with a mother who was addicted to heroin, 21-year-old R&B singer Mario knows what it’s like to have a troubled childhood.
As such, in conjunction with his current tour, which launched June 12 at Six Flags in St. Louis, Mario will visit local Boys & Girls Clubs across the country.
“I felt like my story and who I am as an artist would be an inspiration for a lot of kids who may have experienced the same thing,” says Mario, who is touring in support of his third studio album, “Go!”
The Grammy Award-nominated singer/songwriter/actor will also use the approximately 20-date trek, which wraps July 20 at Six Flags in Chicago, to help spread the word about his recently launched Mario Do Right Foundation (mariodoright.org), which is designed to educate and inspire at-risk kids who are affected by drug abuse.
Mario’s main goal with the foundation is to “really impact the kids by giving them tools and educating them about drugs and how to be proactive when dealing with the pressures of using drugs,” he explains.
During his visit to Boys & Girls Club organizations, “We’ll be doing press conferences about the foundation and holding sessions with kids to have conversations about these issues,” Mario says. “This is something I am personally invested in.”
Along with short musical performances and a Q&A session, the singer will also screen his film documentary, “I Won’t Love You to Death: The Story of Mario and His Mom.”
Meanwhile, Mario has already started working on his fourth studio album. “I’m going into the studio right after the tour,” he says, noting that song ideas are still being worked out. “Creatively, I haven’t gone there yet.”
