Lenny Kravitz: A Musical Icon's Journey

Early Life

Lenny Kravitz was born in Manhattan, New York, as the only child of actress Roxie Roker (1929–1995), best known for her role in the 1970s sitcom "The Jeffersons," and NBC television producer Sy Kravitz (1924–2005).

His mother came from a Christian family with Afro-American and Bahamian heritage, while his father had Ukrainian-Jewish roots. Thanks to his mother, Kravitz is the second cousin of Al Roker, the well-known TV weatherman. Both of his parents were of mixed ethnicity.

During his early years, Kravitz's parents moved to California, where he taught himself to play guitar, bass, drums, and piano. He also developed his singing voice and performed under the stage name "Romeo Blue," heavily influenced by the singer Prince. Among his parents' friends were numerous jazz artists, including Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis.

Kravitz did not grow up in a particularly religious environment. However, after a spiritual experience at the age of 13, he started attending church and later became a non-denominational Christian. His father, Sy Kravitz, was a veteran of the United States Special Forces, and his uncle, Leonard M. Kravitz, was a first lieutenant in the Korean War.

Lenny Kravitz was named after his uncle Leonard M., a war hero who died at the age of 19 while defending his unit against a Chinese attack during the Korean War and saved most of his platoon in the process. Leonard M. Kravitz was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, but his Medal of Honor nomination was denied until 2014, when he finally received the honor alongside 24 other previously overlooked ethnic or religious minority servicemen. Kravitz spent his formative years in the diverse neighborhoods of East Side Manhattan and often visited his grandmother in Brooklyn's Sheepshead Bay neighborhood during weekends.

Although Kravitz identifies more with Christianity, he also considers himself Jewish. In his youth, he attended church regularly, wrote an album titled "Baptism," and even had "My Heart Belongs to Jesus Christ" tattooed on his chest.

Music Career

His debut album, "Let Love Rule," released in 1989, achieved moderate commercial success but made its mark by entering the list of the 100 best albums of the year in the United States. Kravitz gained international recognition in 1990 when Madonna performed his song "Justify My Love." It was also the year when he divorced actress Lisa Bonet.

His second album, "Mama Said," released in 1991, reached the top 40 on the U.S. album chart. The standout single from the album, "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over," reached second place on the U.S. singles chart. This album also featured Sean Lennon, the son of John Lennon, on his debut recording. During this time, he signed a contract with Virgin Records and drew inspiration from soul and classic rock artists like Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, and Stevie Wonder.

In 1993, his third album, "Are You Gonna Go My Way," earned him the Brit Award for Best International Male Artist in 1994. The title track also won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. His collaboration with former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash on this album's title track was particularly well-received.

In 1995, Kravitz released his fourth album, "Circus," which achieved moderate success.

With the release of his fifth album, "5," in 1999, Kravitz started incorporating more electronic instruments like synthesizers into his music. The album's biggest hit, "Fly Away," reached 12th place on the U.S. singles chart and became an anthem symbolizing freedom and flight. For this album, Kravitz received a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

His cover of The Guess Who's "American Woman" earned him another Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in 2000. That same year, he released his first greatest hits album, "Greatest Hits," which became his best-selling album to date.

In October 2001, Kravitz released "Lenny," featuring the successful single "Dig In." While it performed well in the United States and the UK, it gained even more popularity in Latin American countries. In 2003, Kravitz collaborated with Michael Jackson on the song "Another Day."

In May 2004, his seventh album, "Baptism," was released.

In February 2008, Kravitz released his eighth album, "It Is Time For A Love Revolution," featuring the hit single "I'll Be Waiting." He recorded this album in various locations, including New York, Miami, Paris, and Brazil. Kravitz also sampled his own 1993 album "Are You Gonna Go My Way" in the song "Will You Marry Me." Two more singles, "Love Love Love" and "Dancin' Till Dawn," followed from this album.

In April 2009, Kravitz released a special 20th-anniversary edition of his debut album, "Let Love Rule." This reissue included new versions of all the album's singles, live recordings of album tracks, previously unreleased demo versions, and a 25-page booklet.

Kravitz's ninth album, "Black And White America," was released in August 2011. The lead single, "Come On Get It," served as the opening song for the NBA season on TNT. The album's second standout single, "Stand," had a distinct soul-rock style.

Throughout his career, Kravitz's music has been characterized by his distinctive lead guitar work, often maintaining a consistent groove throughout his songs, accompanied by rhythm guitar or percussion.

In 2015, Kravitz performed alongside Katy Perry during the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, one of the most-watched performances in history. In 2020, he made a guest appearance to cover Oasis's song "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" with the band.

Acting Career

In 2009, Kravitz took on a significant acting role in Hollywood, portraying Nurse John in the drama film "Precious," which gained critical acclaim for its portrayal of a troubled young girl named Precious Jones.

Between 2012 and 2013, Kravitz appeared in "The Hunger Games" film series as Cinna, the stylist of the film's heroine, Katniss Everdeen.

Personal Life

After two years of courtship, Kravitz married actress Lisa Bonet on her 20th birthday, November 16, 1987. They had a daughter together, actress and singer Zoë Kravitz, born in 1988. However, their marriage ended in separation in 1991 and divorce in 1993.

Kravitz had a relationship with French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis from 1992 to 1996. He then dated Brazilian model Adriana Lima in 2001, and they lived together before getting married in 2002. However, their marriage was annulled in April 2003. Afterward, Kravitz had a brief engagement and marriage to Australian actress Nicole Kidman between 2003 and 2004.

Kravitz is a vegan, and in a 2020 interview, he revealed that a significant portion of his diet comes from fruits and vegetables that he grows in his own garden.