Leonard Albert Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. Kravitz released his debut album Let Love Rule in 1989. This marked the beginning of a music career characterized by a blend of rock, funk, reggae, hard rock, soul, and R&B.
Kravitz has had hit singles, including "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (1991) and "Again" (2000), each of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard Top 100 chart; other hits include "Let Love Rule" (1989), "Always on the Run" (1991), "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (1993), "Fly Away" (1998), and "American Woman" (1999), each of which reached the top 10 on the Alternative Airplay chart. Kravitz has won several awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance, which he received four years in a row from 1999 to 2002,[5] breaking the record for most wins in that category, and setting the record for most consecutive wins in one category by a male performer. Kravitz has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and was ranked 93 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".[6]
Aside from his music career, Kravitz has acted in films including Precious (2009) and the first two installments of The Hunger Games film series (2012–13). In addition, he also founded the creative studio Kravitz Design Inc. Kravitz was previously married to Lisa Bonet, with whom he has a daughter, Zoë Kravitz.
Early life
Kravitz was born on May 26, 1964, in New York City,[7] the only child of NBC television news producer Sy Kravitz (1924–2005) and actress Roxie Roker (1929–1995).[8] His mother came from a Christian family that was of African-American and Bahamian descent.[9][10][11][12] His father was of Russian-Jewish origin.[13][14][15] Through his mother, Kravitz is a second cousin of television weather presenter Al Roker,[16] as their grandfathers were brothers.[17] Kravitz was named after his uncle, Leonard M. Kravitz, a private first class who was killed in action in the Korean War at the age of 20, while single-handedly holding off a Chinese attack, enabling most of his platoon to escape.[18][a]
During his early years, Kravitz did not grow up in a religious environment.[20] After a spiritual experience when he was 13, he started attending church and later became a non-denominational Christian.[20][21] Kravitz grew up spending weekdays on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with his parents, attending P.S. 6 for elementary school, and spending weekends at his grandmother Bessie's house in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn.[22]
Kravitz began banging on pots and pans in the kitchen, playing them as drums at the age of three. He decided that he wanted to be a musician at the age of five. He began playing the drums and soon added guitar. He grew up listening to the music his parents listened to: R&B, jazz, classical, opera, gospel, and blues. He said, "My parents were very supportive of the fact that I loved music early on, and they took me to a lot of shows."[23][24] Around the age of seven, he saw the Jackson 5 perform at Madison Square Garden, and they became his favorite performers.[25] His father, who was also a jazz promoter, was friends with Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Short, Miles Davis, and other jazz greats; Ellington even played "Happy Birthday" for him on his fifth birthday.[26][27][28]
With record labels still telling him his music was not "black enough" or "white enough", Kravitz decided to record an album on his own under the name Romeo Blue.[22] Kravitz had met the recording engineer, keyboardist, and bassist Henry Hirsch in 1985 when recording a demo at his Hoboken, New Jersey, recording studio. The two shared an interest in using real instruments and vintage recording equipment, as well as a love of R&B, jazz, and rock. Kravitz would go on to collaborate with Hirsch on most of his albums. Kravitz began working on his debut album with Hirsch over the next year and a half, with Kravitz's father paying for the studio time. Kravitz met saxophonist Karl Denson and invited him to play on the song "Let Love Rule". Kravitz was so impressed with his playing that Denson played on much of the album. Beginning in the late 1980s, Denson toured with Kravitz for five years.[32]
In October 1988, after completing most of the recording, Kravitz approached friend Stephen Elvis Smith, who had served as the music supervisor on Lisa Bonet's The Cosby Show spin-off A Different World. Smith had also worked with Kravitz's mother on the hit sitcom The Jeffersons. Kravitz urged Smith to manage his career and assist him in finding a record deal. In less than a month of shopping the recordings, five labels (Warner Bros, Elektra, Geffen, Capitol, and Virgin) were in a bidding war for Kravitz. Eventually, a deal was made with Virgin Records in January 1989, and signed by Virgin A&R executive Nancy Jeffries. The label was "excited" about the music he was making, music inspired by his relationship with wife Bonet and their new daughter, Zoe. On Smith's urging, Kravitz dropped the name Romeo Blue and reclaimed the Lenny Kravitz moniker. About his time as Romeo Blue, Kravitz said, "Ultimately, it got me back to myself. And when I finally did accept myself for myself, music started flowing out of me."[24]
Kravitz released his debut album Let Love Rule in 1989, a combination of rock and funk with a 1960s vibe. Music critics were mixed: some felt Kravitz was a gifted new artist, others felt he was overpowered by his musical influences. The album was a moderate success in the United States, but became an instant hit outside of the US, especially in Europe. Lisa Bonet directed the debut music video for the title track, "Let Love Rule". Stephen Smith signed Kravitz with talent booking agency CAA, who soon were fielding offers for Kravitz, first on a club tour, and then in opening slots for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, and David Bowie. Having played essentially all of the instruments on the album, Kravitz had to quickly assemble a touring band to support the Let Love Rule release. In May 2009, a 20th-anniversary deluxe edition of Let Love Rule was released worldwide by Virgin. Kravitz launched a LLR(20) tour of Europe and the United States in support of the re-release.[33][34][35]
Kravitz separated from Lisa Bonet in 1991,[36] amid rumors of an affair between him and Madonna. Kravitz has denied any infidelity.[36] Kravitz and Bonet divorced in 1993. Kravitz produced the self-titled album Vanessa Paradis (1991) for French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis. He played most of the instruments and co-wrote most of the songs on the album.
In 1991, Kravitz released his second album, Mama Said. The songs on the album were about Bonet and documented his depression over their breakup.[27] The single, "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over", went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. A second single "Always on the Run", a tribute to his mother,[27] featured Slash on guitar. "Stand by My Woman" and "What Goes Around Comes Around" followed. Sean Lennon co-wrote and played piano on the song "All I Ever Wanted".[22]
In 1994, Kravitz recorded "Main Squeeze" with Teena Marie from her Passion Play CD. Kravitz also made a video to pay tribute to Teena Marie when she suddenly died on December 26, 2010. He recorded a funk-rock version of the song "Deuce" for the KISS cover album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved. The track featured Stevie Wonder on harmonica and background vocals.[37]
Kravitz released a Greatest Hits album in 2000. The single "Again" earned him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 2001.
2006–2009: Live Earth, charity work, and It Is Time for a Love Revolution
Kravitz performing in 2012
In January 2006, Kravitz contributed "Breathe" to absoluttracks, a project sponsored by Absolut Vodka. This song was re-mixed by ten musical producers and distributed via the internet. Kravitz appeared in the audience of Madonna's Confessions Tour (2006) during numerous shows. He later joined Madonna live on stage to play guitar on the song, "I Love New York", at the last of four Paris shows. Kravitz founded a design firm named Kravitz Design, stating if he hadn't been a musician he would have been a designer. Kravitz Design, focused on interior and furniture design, has designed residential spaces, as well as a chandelier for the crystal company Swarovski, named "Casino Royale".[39]
Kravitz made his feature film acting debut in Precious[43] which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2009.[44]
2009–2011: U2 tour and Black and White America
Kravitz performing in 2012
In June 2010 it was announced that Kravitz would guest star on an episode of the upcoming season of Entourage.[45]
In 2011 Kravitz was honored with one of the highest cultural awards in France when he was made an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by French cultural minister Frederic Mitterrand in Paris. Kravitz stated he was "particularly touched" to receive the award in France as his success in the country pre-dated his success in the United States and still enjoys great record sales in the country today.[46] Kravitz joined other American recipients such as Martin Scorsese, George Clooney, and Bob Dylan. On February 26, 2012, he performed at the Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500, the opening race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. A sample of "Are You Gonna Go My Way" was used in American singer Chris Willis's single "Too Much In Love", released on August 16, 2011.[47]
2012–present: The Hunger Games films, Super Bowl performance, and further albums
Lenny Kravitz played the part of Katniss' creative stylist, Cinna, in the first two Hunger Games films, The Hunger Games released on March 23, 2012[48] and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire released on November 22, 2013.
In 2015 he became a furniture designer for the first time ever launching a collection of furniture products marketed under the label CB2 x Kravitz design through retailer CB2.[51] The collection was apparently inspired by the 70s and by the work of Italian designer Gabriella Crespi.[52]
The Raise Vibration world tour[53] (2018) coincided with the release of his 11th studio album.[54][55]
In April 2018, Kravitz signed with BMG Rights Management for a new worldwide publishing music deal to go with his new album Raise Vibration, released in September 2018.[56] BMG had acquired Kravitz's music publishing rights in 2013, as part of Virgin Music Publishing.[57]
On May 24, 2024, he released his 12th album, Blue Electric Light, which was supported by a world tour with the same name.
Other work
Photography and collaboration with Leica
Kravitz has partnered with Leica on two occasions. In 2015 a Leica M-P edition titled "The Correspondent", and again in 2019 with a Monochrom edition titled "Drifter".[61][62]
Kravitz Design
Kravitz Design Inc. is a New York City–based company founded by Kravitz in 2003.[63] Kravitz Design focuses on commercial, residential and product creative direction and design.[63]
Among its clients are the Morgans Hotel Group, Swarovski Crystal, and The Setai Group.[64] Swarovski selected Kravitz Design Inc. in 2005 and 2006 to participate in their Crystal Palace Collection.[65] Kravitz Design also envisioned a luxury recording studio for The Setai Resort and Residences in Miami Beach, New York, Paris, and New Orleans.[66] In 2010, Kravitz Design collaborated with Flavor Paper wallpaper on the Tropicalismo Collection, a line inspired by Brazil's Tropicalia art movement of the late 1960s.[67]
In 1985, Kravitz met Cosby Show actress Lisa Bonet backstage at a New Edition concert in California.[68] They were close friends for two years before beginning a relationship.[68] In 1987 Kravitz moved back to New York City, where The Cosby Show was produced, to move in with Bonet.[69] They eloped in Las Vegas on November 16, 1987, her 20th birthday.[68] Kravitz, still known as Romeo Blue at the time, suddenly found himself in the headlines of tabloids. He and Bonet had a daughter, Zoë Isabella Kravitz, on December 1, 1988,[70] who became an actress, singer and model. Kravitz and Bonet separated in 1991.[36] They divorced amicably in 1993.[69]
Kravitz dated French singer and model Vanessa Paradis from 1991 to 1996.[71][72] He began dating Brazilian model Adriana Lima in 2001,[73] and they lived together before becoming engaged in 2002.[73] The engagement was called off in August 2003.[73][74][75] Lima was featured in the music video for Kravitz's 2002 single "Yesterday Is Gone (My Dear Kay)".[76] He then briefly dated and was engaged to Australian actress Nicole Kidman from 2003 to 2004.[77]
Kravitz identifies himself as a Christian in a religious sense "through choice" but states, "I'm also a Jew. It's all the same to me."[78] During another interview, he stated, "I'm half Jewish, I'm half black, I look in-between."[79] He also notes that spirituality "has been an important issue in [his] growth", citing his upbringing by parents of different faiths.[80] Such spirituality is prominently featured in many of his songs, such as the lyrics on his album Baptism, and a tattoo on his back which is inscribed with "My Heart Belongs to Jesus Christ".[81] In 2011, he stated that his 2005 religious commitment to remain celibate until remarriage was unchanged. In a 2014 interview with Men's Health, however, he reconsidered his previous stance.[82][83][84] In 2024, Kravitz reaffirmed his desire to remain celibate once again, stating to The Guardian that it was his father's infidelity that inspired him to make a change. "After the marriage, [to ex-wife Lisa Bonet] I became more like him. I was becoming a player....I didn't like it. I didn't want to be that guy. So I had to tackle that and it took years....by taking responsibility. Discipline. Not letting my own desires take over."[85] Kravitz also stated in the same interview that he had not been in a romantic relationship for 9 years at that point.[85][86]
He follows veganism[90] with a primarily raw vegan diet,[89] and uses his land in Brazil and The Bahamas to grow his own food.[89]PETA named Kravitz one of the Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities of 2022.[91]
↑ Leonard M. Kravitz was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross but was denied the Medal of Honor.[18] In 2014, he received the Medal of Honor in a ceremony that awarded it to 24 servicemen who had been passed over because of their ethnicity or religion.[19]
1 2 Heath, Chris (June 16, 2009). "Lenny Kravitz interview". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
↑ Phull, Hardeep (September 27, 2014). "Lenny Kravitz: My childhood New York". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2018. Lenny Kravitz: "It was my fifth birthday and my parents took me to see Duke Ellington here. At the sound check, I sat on his lap and during the show, he and his band played 'Happy Birthday' to me."
↑ Hosley, Steve (November 20, 2012). "NEW AGAIN: LENNY KRAVITZ". Interview Magazine. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2018. Lenny Kravitz: "My dad was a producer on the side. I think he did one of Patti Austin's first recordings, when she was around 13 years old. My dad used to take me to jazz concerts. I got to sit on Duke Ellington's lap when he played."
↑ «C'est chez vous que tout a commencé pour ma carrière, raconte-t-il. J'ai donné un concert aux Transmusicales de Rennes en 1989. Le lendemain, la presse était extatique. Ils avaient, en toute modestie, découvert un génie»
↑ Hosley, Steve (November 20, 2012). "New Again: Lenny Kravitz". Interview Magazine. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2018. Lenny Kravitz: "My dad was a producer on the side. I think he did one of Patti Austin's first recordings, when she was around 13 years old. My dad used to take me to jazz concerts. I got to sit on Duke Ellington's lap when he played."[verification needed]
↑ "Rustin". Golden Globe Awards. 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2023.
↑ "96TH OSCARS® SHORTLISTS IN 10 AWARD CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
↑ Stevenson, Jane (February 5, 1996). "Bursting rock's balloon". Jam!/Canoe. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2007.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
↑ Pepper, Tracey (1998). "Lenny's 5". Lenny-kravitz.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
Scarlett MacDougal's book series "Have a Nice Life", refers to the main girl's "intergalactic angel/fairy godmother" as a Lenny Kravitz lookalike, though his actual name is Clarence Terence. ISBN0-14-131020-0
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lenny Kravitz.
Baptism is the seventh studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on May 17, 2004, by Virgin Records. The album produced five singles and reached number 14 on the Billboard 200 and number 74 on the UK Albums Chart.
Mama Said is the second studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in April 1991 by Virgin Records. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash co-wrote and played on the song "Always on the Run". He also played on the song "Fields of Joy". The song "All I Ever Wanted" was co-written by Sean Lennon.
Let Love Rule is the debut studio album of American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on September 6, 1989, by Virgin Records. Then-wife Lisa Bonet wrote the lyrics to "Fear" and co-wrote the lyrics on the song "Rosemary"; other than that the album is virtually a one-man Kravitz show, as he wrote and produced all the songs and played nearly all the instruments.
Lenny is the sixth studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in October 2001 through Virgin Records. It reached number 12 on the Billboard 200 and number 55 on the UK Albums Chart.
"American Woman" is a song by Canadian rock band the Guess Who, released January 1970, from the album of the same name. It was later released in March 1970 as a single backed with "No Sugar Tonight", and it reached number one for three weeks commencing May 9 on both the United States' Billboard Hot 100 and the Canadian RPM magazine singles chart. Billboard magazine placed the single at number three on the Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1970 list, and it was listed as number five for 1970 on the RPM Year-End Chart. On May 22, 1970, the single was certified as gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It also reached the top ten in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Austria, and the top twenty in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
Circus is the fourth studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in 1995 by Virgin Records. It reached number 10 on the US Billboard 200 and number five on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Kravitz's first top 10 album in the US and second in the UK.
"Fly Away" is a song by American singer Lenny Kravitz. It was released as the fourth single from his fifth studio album, 5 (1998). Released to the radio on May 11, 1998, "Fly Away" peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Fly Away" topped the charts in Iceland and the United Kingdom, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Republic of Ireland. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Performance in 1999.
"Are You Gonna Go My Way" is a song by American musician Lenny Kravitz, released in February 1993 by Virgin Records as the first single from his third studio album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). The song was written by Kravitz and Craig Ross, while Kravitz produced it. It peaked at number one in Australia and number four on the UK Singles Chart, as well as number one on the US Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart and number two on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Its music video was directed by Mark Romanek.
"It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" is a song written, produced, and performed by American musician Lenny Kravitz for his second studio album, Mama Said (1991). Released as the album's second single in June 1991 by Virgin, the song is a mid-tempo ballad musically inspired by Motown, Philly soul, and Earth, Wind & Fire. The horn line at the end is performed by the Phenix Horns from Earth, Wind & Fire. "That song just came out one day, and I knew it had a classic vibe. And I still love that song very much today," Kravitz said in an interview for VivaMusic.com in 2000. The line is based on a Yogiism, or quotation from Yogi Berra: "It ain't over 'til it's over."
"Always on the Run" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released as the first single from his second album, Mama Said (1991), in March 1991. It features a contribution by Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash. Slash had written the music for the song with the original intention of releasing it on a Guns N' Roses studio album, but since former drummer Steven Adler had difficulty playing the song, he saved it for this eventual collaboration with Kravitz. On June 6, 1992, during Guns N' Roses's Use Your Illusion Tour stop in Paris, Kravitz joined the band onstage and played guitar and sang vocals for this track.
It Is Time for a Love Revolution is the eighth studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on February 5, 2008. The album produced four singles released in 2007 and 2008. This is Kravitz's final album for Virgin Records.
"Let Love Rule" is the debut single by American musician Lenny Kravitz and appeared on his debut studio album, Let Love Rule (1989). The song charted at number 23 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks charts, and number 5 on the US Modern Rock charts. Then-wife Lisa Bonet appears in the video for the single.
"I Build This Garden for Us" is a song by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released in 1990 by Virgin Records as the second single from his debut album, Let Love Rule (1989).
"Fields of Joy" is an original song by The New York Rock Ensemble released in 1971. Lenny Kravitz released a remake on July 16, 1991, as the third single from his second studio album Mama Said.
American singer Lenny Kravitz has released 12 studio albums, one greatest hits compilation album, four box set compilation albums, two extended plays, 63 singles, and eight video albums, including three live albums. His debut album, Let Love Rule (1989), peaked at number 61 in the US, and while receiving generally positive reviews, it became a huge success in Europe but took a long time to reach success in the US. Its followers, Mama Said (1991) and Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993), sold better overall than his debut, achieving platinum and multi-platinum status respectively, establishing Kravitz in the music industry and expanding his success in Europe and South America. However, despite only two years between albums, personal issues such as substance abuse problems, the aftermath of divorce, and his mother Roxie Roker's illness led to a decline in commercial sales with Circus (1995).
Black and White America is the ninth studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz, released on August 30, 2011. The album also produced six singles released in 2011 and 2012.
Are You Gonna Go My Way is the third studio album by American singer Lenny Kravitz, released on March 9, 1993, by Virgin Records. It was recorded at Waterfront Studios, Hoboken, New Jersey, by Henry Hirsch. It became Kravitz's first top 20 album on the United States Billboard 200, and his first number one album in both Australia and the United Kingdom, achieving worldwide success that helped to establish his popularity as a performer.
Raise Vibration is the eleventh studio album by American rock musician Lenny Kravitz. It was released on Roxie Records via BMG Rights Management on September 7, 2018 and produced seven singles.
"Believe" is a song by American musician Lenny Kravitz, released by Virgin Records on May 10, 1993, as the second single from his third album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993). It is a rock ballad with string orchestration, and was co-written, arranged and produced by Kravitz, with Henry Hirsch also contributing to the orchestration and composition. Its lyrics concern one being able to achieve freedom and "eternal grace" if they believe in themselves and put their faith in God.
"Can't Get You Off My Mind" is a song written and performed by American singer and songwriter Lenny Kravitz and released in February 1996 by Virgin as the third single from his fourth studio album, Circus (1995). The song was later included in the albums Greatest Hits (2000) and Lenny (2001) as a bonus track. There are two versions of the music video for the song: one was directed by Matthew Rolston, the other by Jim Gable.
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