Lenny Kravitz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lenny Kravitz
Kravitz in 2024
Born	Leonard Albert Kravitz (1964-05-26) May 26, 1964 (age 61) New York City, U.S.
Other names	Romeo Blue
Occupation	Singer songwriter multi-instrumentalist record producer actor
Years active	1981–present
Works	Discography filmography
Spouse(s)	Lisa Bonet ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1993)​
Children	Zoë Kravitz
Parent(s)	Roxie Roker Sy Kravitz
Relatives	Leonard M. Kravitz (uncle) Al Roker (second cousin)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Rock funk soul
Instruments	Vocals guitar bass drums keyboards piano
Labels	Virgin EMI Roadrunner Kobalt Loud & Proud BMG

Leonard Albert Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is a famous American singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is known for his unique music style, which mixes rock, funk, reggae, and soul.

Lenny Kravitz has released many popular songs, including "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (1991) and "Again" (2000). Other well-known hits are "Let Love Rule" (1989), "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (1993), and "Fly Away" (1998). He has won several awards, including four Grammy Awards in a row for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance from 1999 to 2002. This set a record for the most wins in that category.

Beyond music, Kravitz has also acted in movies like Precious (2009) and The Hunger Games film series (2012–13). He also started his own design company called Kravitz Design Inc. He was married to actress Lisa Bonet, and they have a daughter, Zoë Kravitz, who is also an actress.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Growing Up in New York and Los Angeles

Lenny Kravitz was born on May 26, 1964, in New York City. His mother, Roxie Roker, was an actress, and his father, Sy Kravitz, was a TV news producer. His uncle, Leonard M. Kravitz, was a brave soldier who died in the Korean War. Lenny was named after him.

When he was young, Lenny spent weekdays in Manhattan and weekends in Brooklyn with his grandmother. He started playing music very early, banging on pots and pans like drums at age three. By age five, he knew he wanted to be a musician. He learned to play drums and then guitar.

Discovering Different Music Styles

Lenny grew up listening to many types of music, like R&B, jazz, classical, and gospel. His parents supported his love for music and took him to many shows. When he was about seven, he saw the Jackson 5 perform and was very inspired. His father, who promoted jazz music, was friends with famous jazz artists like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis.

In 1974, when Lenny was 10, his family moved to Los Angeles because his mother got a role on the TV show The Jeffersons. In Los Angeles, he discovered rock music from bands like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. He also learned to play piano and bass. He went to Beverly Hills High School and became friends with Zoro, who later worked with him on music.

Music Career Highlights

Starting His Music Journey

When Lenny Kravitz first tried to get a record deal, some companies told him his music wasn't "black enough" or "white enough." So, he decided to record an album on his own. He met recording engineer Henry Hirsch in 1985, and they worked together on his first album. Lenny's father helped pay for the studio time.

In 1989, Lenny signed with Virgin Records and released his first album, Let Love Rule. The album mixed rock and funk with a 1960s feel. It became very popular in Europe and helped him start his career.

Becoming a Global Star

Kravitz and Craig Ross performing in 2012

In 1990, Lenny Kravitz helped produce and co-write the song "Justify My Love" for Madonna. In 1991, he released his second album, Mama Said. This album included the hit song "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" and "Always on the Run", which featured Slash on guitar.

His third album, Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993), made him even more famous around the world. The title song was a huge hit, and its music video won an MTV Video Music Award.

Grammy Wins and Continued Success

With his album 5 (1998), Lenny Kravitz began his amazing streak of four straight Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. He won for songs like "Fly Away" (1999) and his cover of "American Woman" (2000). His song "Again" (2000) earned him another Grammy in 2001. He continued his winning streak with "Dig In" in 2002.

In 2000, he released a Greatest Hits album, which was very popular. He has sold over 40 million albums worldwide.

Other Projects and Recent Work

Design and Charity

Kravitz performing in 2012

Lenny Kravitz also has a design company called Kravitz Design. They work on interior design and furniture. He has designed things for hotels and even a chandelier for Swarovski.

He has also been involved in charity work. In 2007, he performed at the Live Earth concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which focused on climate change. He also contributed to a charity CD called Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur.

Acting Roles and Latest Music

Kravitz performing with Katy Perry at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show

Lenny Kravitz made his acting debut in the movie Precious in 2009. He also played the role of Cinna, a creative stylist, in the first two Hunger Games movies, released in 2012 and 2013.

In 2014, he released his tenth studio album, Strut. In 2015, he performed with Katy Perry at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, which is a huge event.

Kravitz performing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention

He continued to release new music, including Raise Vibration in 2018. In 2023, he wrote a song called "Road to Freedom" for the movie Rustin, which was nominated for awards. In March 2024, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On May 24, 2024, he released his twelfth album, Blue Electric Light, and started a world tour to support it.

Personal Life

Kravitz with his daughter Zoë in March 2010

Lenny Kravitz met actress Lisa Bonet in 1985. They became good friends and later married in 1987. Their daughter, Zoë Kravitz, was born in 1988 and is now a well-known actress and singer. Lenny and Lisa divorced in 1993 but remained friends.

Lenny Kravitz has homes in Paris, France, and in The Bahamas. He follows a mostly raw vegan diet and grows some of his own food. He was named one of the Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities of 2022 by PETA.

Discography

Studio Albums

• Let Love Rule (1989)
• Mama Said (1991)
• Are You Gonna Go My Way (1993)
• Circus (1995)
• 5 (1998)
• Lenny (2001)
• Baptism (2004)
• It Is Time for a Love Revolution (2008)
• Black and White America (2011)
• Strut (2014)
• Raise Vibration (2018)
• Blue Electric Light (2024)

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

Tours

• Let Love Rule Tour (1990)
• Universal Love Tour (1993)
• Are You Gonna Go My Way Tour (1994)
• Circus Tour (1995–96)
• The Freedom Tour (1998–99)
• Lenny Tour (2002)
• The Baptism Tour (2004)
• Love Revolution Tour (2008)
• Black and White Tour (2011)
• Strut Tour (2014–15)
• Raise Vibration Tour (2018–19)
• Blue Electric Light Tour (2024–25)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Other Awards

Images for kids

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  Kravitz performing at Untold Festival in 2024

See also

In Spanish: Lenny Kravitz para niños