Lenny Kravitz is an American rock musician, singer, composer, and actor. People worldwide respect and admire him for his brilliant vocals, emotional songs, and striking appearance. His hits have reached the highest spots on popular charts. We’ll dive deeper into Lenny’s path to success on manhattanski.com.
Early Years
Lenny Kravitz was born on May 24, 1964, in New York City to an affluent family. His father, Sy Kravitz, was Jewish and had moved to the United States from Ukraine. Sy soon became a producer at NBC TV News. Lenny’s mother, Roxie Roker, built a brilliant acting career. Lenny spent his entire childhood in Manhattan. From an early age, he showed an interest in art and television. At the age of three, the boy would arrange dishes around the house and drum on them, trying to keep a rhythm. In 1974, Roxie was offered a role in the popular sitcom The Jeffersons; she accepted and moved with her family to Los Angeles. There, Lenny joined the California Boys Choir. After demonstrating his talent for playing several instruments, Lenny was also accepted into the music program at Beverly Hills High School.
The Start of a Musical Career
In 1982, Kravitz graduated from Beverly Hills High School and left home, determined to make a career in the music business, initially calling himself Romeo Blue. Despite his parents’ connections to celebrities, Lenny was resolved to succeed on his own merits. The first years of his music career were far from glamorous. He lived in a car, paying a mere $5 a day for the rent. In 1985, while still trying to make a name for himself, Kravitz was deeply upset by the news of his parents’ divorce, which threw him off balance slightly.
Kravitz’s professional music career took off with the release of his 1989 debut album, Let Love Rule, which blended elements of rock and funk and earned critical acclaim. Despite the difficulties he faced finding a label due to his genre-blending style, the album’s success cemented his status as a distinctive artist in the music industry. Notably, the musician’s first album peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard charts. The album’s title track reached No. 89 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 1986, Kravitz met sound engineer Henry Hirsch. This meeting gave Lenny the opportunity he had long been seeking. By 1989, his debut album Let Love Rule was ready for release on Virgin Records.
In 1991, the artist released his second album, Mama Said, inspired by his painful divorce, which peaked at number 40 on the Billboard chart. The song “It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over” became a true hit, landing at number 2 on the charts.
In 1992, Lenny decided to try his hand at producing and participated in the preparation of Vanessa Paradis’s first album, co-writing most of her songs. In 1993, his album Are You Gonna Go My Way was released, for which the artist received an MTV Video Music Award. While creating his next album, Five, Kravitz experimented with digital technology. All this led to his success and earned him a Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
In 2000, Kravitz released a compilation of his greatest hits. Two years later, he was invited to collaborate on a track for Guns N’ Roses. The following year, he released a new album, Lenny. In 2011, the artist’s ninth album, Black and White America, came out. In 2014, the rocker presented his tenth studio album, Strut. To promote it, he released a music video for the song “The Chamber.” The musician’s career quickly began to develop rapidly. He continued to pursue his passion and gave concerts all over the world.
Lenny Kravitz in Film
In 2001, Lenny ventured into cinema, starring as himself in Ben Stiller’s film comedy Zoolander. In 2009, the musician appeared before audiences in Lee Daniels’ drama Precious, playing the role of Nurse John. A few years later, Kravitz was entrusted with the role of Cinna in the dystopian film The Hunger Games, based on the book series of the same name by author Suzanne Collins. Interestingly, Lenny was cast in the role without an audition; the director had been captivated by his performance in Zoolander.
In 2013, the musician appeared in the action movie The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. This sequel was ultimately nominated for 7 Saturn Awards. Concurrently, Lenny worked on the project The Butler, where he played James Holloway. This turned out to be the last work in the filmography of producer Laura Ziskin. She passed away shortly before the premiere after a 7-year battle with cancer. In December 2022, Shotgun Wedding premiered in Singapore, in which Kravitz had a supporting role as the character Sean Hawkins.
Lenny Kravitz continues to conquer new creative heights and remains a prominent figure in the music industry. He released his 12th album, Blue Electric Light, in May 2024. Furthermore, in the spring of the same year, Lenny was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. During the ceremony, Kravitz thanked those involved for recognising his talent and admitted that he hadn’t expected his name to be immortalised.
The Star’s Personal Life and Interesting Facts
In 1986, Lenny Kravitz met actress Lisa Bonet, who was playing Denise Huxtable in The Cosby Show at the time. A romance blossomed between Lenny and Lisa, and they soon began living together. The couple married in November 1987. As Kravitz rose to the height of fame, his marriage to Bonet dissolved, and they divorced in the early 1990s. Lisa gave birth to their daughter, Zoë, who has established herself as a successful actress, singer, and model.
Over the years, Kravitz has been linked to several high-profile relationships, including with French singer Vanessa Paradis and Brazilian model Adriana Lima. However, the musician once admitted that he has been practicing celibacy for several years, focusing on his spiritual path and personal development.
Beyond his musical achievements, Lenny has made a significant contribution to the world of design through his company, Kravitz Design Inc., which specializes in commercial and residential interior design, product development, and branding. His creative aspirations extend beyond music, reflecting his multifaceted talent and artistic vision.
As for interesting facts:
- At the age of 3, Lenny played on pots and pans.
- From 1998 to 2001, the artist won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance four consecutive times, setting a record for the most consecutive wins by a male artist in a single category at the ceremony.
- In 2011, the French government appointed him an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters.
- More than 40 million of the musician’s albums have been sold worldwide.
- Kravitz has supported numerous charities, including Artists Against Racism and WhyHunger.
Kravitz continues to captivate audiences with his dynamic performances and timeless music. His influence on contemporary culture and fashion remains significant, inspiring a new generation of artists and fans. In one of his interviews, Lenny admitted that he achieved success in music and film thanks to self-belief and the support of his parents.