Lenny Kravitz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lenny Kravitz
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![]() Kravitz in 2024
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Born |
Leonard Albert Kravitz
May 26, 1964 New York City, U.S.
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Other names | Romeo Blue |
Occupation |
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Years active | 1981–present |
Works
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Spouse(s) | |
Children | Zoë Kravitz |
Parent(s) | Roxie Roker Sy Kravitz |
Relatives |
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Awards | Full list |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instruments |
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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.
Contents
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
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
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
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.

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

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
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1998 | The Rugrats Movie | Newborn Baby (voice) | |
2001 | Zoolander | Himself | Cameo role |
2009 | Precious | Nurse John | Supporting role |
2012 | The Hunger Games | Cinna | Supporting role |
The World Is Watching: Making the Hunger Games | Himself | Documentary | |
2013 | The Butler | James Holloway | Supporting role |
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | Cinna | Supporting role | |
2022 | Shotgun Wedding | Sean | Supporting role |
Television Roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2001 | Being Mick | Himself | Television film |
2002 | The Simpsons | Himself | Episode: "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" |
2010 | Entourage | Himself | Guest star |
2016 | Star | Roland Crane | 2 episodes |
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
Year | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
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1999 | Best Male Rock Vocal Performance | "Fly Away" | Won |
2000 | Best Male Rock Vocal Performance | "American Woman" | Won |
2001 | Best Male Rock Vocal Performance | "Again" | Won |
2002 | Best Male Rock Vocal Performance | "Dig In" | Won |
Other Awards
Year | Awards | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
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1993 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Male Video | "Are You Gonna Go My Way" | Won |
1994 | Brit Awards | International Male Solo Artist | Himself | Won |
2002 | American Music Awards | Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist | Himself | Won |
2009 | Black Reel Awards | Best Ensemble | Precious | Won |
2012 | DJ Awards | Best Ibiza Live Performance | Himself | Won |
2014 | NRJ Music Awards | NRJ Award of Honor | Himself | Won |
2024 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Rock Video | "Human" | Won |
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Lenny Kravitz para niños