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 musician record producer actor
Years active	1981–present
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)
Musical career
Genres	Rock progressive soul
Instruments	Vocals guitar bass drums keyboards piano
Labels	Virgin EMI Roadrunner Kobalt Loud & Proud BMG

Leonard Albert Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He started his music career in 1989 with his first album, Let Love Rule. His music mixes different styles like rock, funk, reggae, hard rock, soul, and R&B.

Kravitz has released many popular songs, including "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (1991) and "Again" (2000), which both 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).

He has won several awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. He won this award four years in a row from 1999 to 2002, which is a record! Kravitz has sold over 40 million albums around the world.

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

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Leonard Albert Kravitz was born in New York City on May 26, 1964. He was the only child of Sy Kravitz, a TV news producer, and Roxie Roker, an actress. His mother's family was Christian, with African-American and Bahamian roots. His father's family was Ukrainian Jewish. His uncle, Leonard M. Kravitz, was a brave soldier who died in the Korean War at age 20. He was named after him.

Lenny grew up without a strong religious background. But at 13, he had a spiritual experience and became a Christian. He spent weekdays in Manhattan and weekends at his grandmother's house in Brooklyn.

From a young age, Lenny loved music. He started playing drums on pots and pans at three years old! By age five, he knew he wanted to be a musician. He learned to play drums and then guitar. His parents supported his love for music and took him to many shows. He listened to many types of music, like R&B, jazz, classical, and gospel. When he was seven, he saw The Jacksons perform and they became his favorite band. His father was friends with famous jazz musicians like Duke Ellington, who even played "Happy Birthday" for Lenny when he turned five.

In 1974, when he was 10, Lenny moved to Los Angeles with his parents. His mother got a role on the TV show The Jeffersons. In Los Angeles, he joined the California Boys Choir for three years. He sang classical music and performed with the Metropolitan Opera. He also discovered rock music, listening to bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. He liked their cool style and rock 'n' roll vibe. He also learned to play piano and bass. He went to Beverly Hills High School and was classmates with future stars like Nicolas Cage and Slash.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out: 1985–1990

When Lenny Kravitz first tried to get a record deal, labels told him his music wasn't "black enough" or "white enough." So, he decided to record his own music under the name Romeo Blue. In 1985, he met engineer Henry Hirsch, and they worked together on his first album. Lenny's father helped pay for the studio time.

In 1989, he signed with Virgin Records. He decided to use his real name, Lenny Kravitz. He released his first album, Let Love Rule, which mixed rock and funk with a 1960s feel. The album did well in Europe and became a moderate success in the US. His wife, Lisa Bonet, directed the music video for the song "Let Love Rule." Lenny then toured with famous artists like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Bob Dylan, and David Bowie.

Becoming Popular: 1991–2001

In 1990, Lenny produced and co-wrote the song "Justify My Love" for Madonna. The song became a number one hit. In 1991, he joined the Peace Choir to sing "Give Peace a Chance" to protest the Gulf War.

Lenny released his second album, Mama Said, in 1991. It was his first album to reach the Top 40 charts. The song "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Another song, "Always on the Run," featured Slash on guitar.

In 1993, his album Are You Gonna Go My Way was released. It reached number 12 on the Billboard 200. The title track won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video. Lenny performed the song at the MTV Video Music Awards with John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin. This album also introduced guitarist Craig Ross, who has played on all of Lenny's albums since.

Kravitz and Craig Ross performing together in 2012.

Lenny's mother, Roxie Roker, passed away in 1995. In the same year, he released the album Circus, which reached number 10 on the Billboard chart.

With his album 5 (1998), Lenny started using more digital music tools. This album helped his music reach even more people, thanks to the hit song "Fly Away" being used in car and airline commercials. "Fly Away" reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts in other countries. He won his first of four straight Grammys for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for this song.

In 1999, his cover of the Guess Who's song "American Woman" won him another Grammy. Lenny also worked on two songs for Michael Jackson's Invincible album.

In 2000, Lenny released a Greatest Hits album. It became his most successful album, selling almost 11 million copies worldwide. The new song "Again" earned him his third Grammy and reached number 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Later Career and Other Work: 2006–Present

Kravitz performing in 2012.

In 2007, Lenny performed at the Live Earth concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had already performed there in 2005 for 300,000 people. He also released his album It Is Time for a Love Revolution in 2008.

Lenny made his acting debut in the film Precious in 2009. He also joined U2 on some of their concerts in 2011. In the same year, he received a high cultural award in France, becoming an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

In 2012, Lenny Kravitz played the character Cinna, Katniss's stylist, in the first two Hunger Games movies: The Hunger Games (2012) and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013).

Kravitz performing with Katy Perry at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show in 2015.

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

Lenny also started a design company called Kravitz Design in 2003. They work on homes, businesses, and product design. He even designed a furniture collection with CB2 in 2015.

Kravitz performing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in 2016.

In 2018, he released his 11th album, Raise Vibration, and went on a world tour. In 2023, he wrote a song called "Road to Freedom" for the film Rustin, which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. In March 2024, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On May 24, 2024, he released his 12th album, Blue Electric Light, and started a new world tour.

Kravitz performing at Untold Festival in 2024.

Personal Life

Kravitz with his daughter Zoë in March 2010.

In 1985, Lenny Kravitz met actress Lisa Bonet. They became close friends and later started dating. They got married in Las Vegas in 1987. Their daughter, Zoë Isabella Kravitz, was born in 1988. She grew up to become an actress, singer, and model. Lenny and Lisa divorced in 1993.

Lenny Kravitz identifies as a Christian by choice, but he also respects his Jewish heritage. He says that spirituality is very important to him. He has a tattoo on his back that says "My Heart Belongs to Jesus Christ."

He owns homes in Paris, Brazil, and The Bahamas. He follows a vegan diet, mostly eating raw foods. He grows his own food on his land in Brazil and The Bahamas. In 2022, PETA named him one of the Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities.

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

Movies

Television Shows

Concert 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

MTV Video Music Awards

Images for kids

• 

  Kravitz performing in 2012.

See also

In Spanish: Lenny Kravitz para niños

• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Modern Rock chart
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart