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 an American singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is famous for his music that mixes different styles like rock, funk, soul, and R&B. His first album, Let Love Rule, came out in 1989.

Kravitz has had many hit songs, including "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (1991) and "Again" (2000). Other famous songs are "Are You Gonna Go My Way" (1993), "Fly Away" (1998), and "American Woman" (1999).

He won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance four years in a row, from 1999 to 2002. This set a record for the most wins in a row by a male artist in any category. Kravitz has sold over 40 million albums around the world.

Besides music, Kravitz has acted in movies. He played Cinna in The Hunger Games film series and also appeared in the movie Precious. He was married to actress Lisa Bonet, and they have a daughter, Zoë Kravitz, who is also an actress.

Early life

Lenny Kravitz was born on May 26, 1964, in New York City. He was the only child of Roxie Roker, an actress, and Sy Kravitz, a TV news producer for NBC. His mother's family was of African-American and Bahamian descent. His father's family was Russian-Jewish. Through his mother, Kravitz is a second cousin of TV weather presenter Al Roker.

Kravitz was named after his uncle, Private First Class Leonard M. Kravitz. His uncle was killed in the Korean War at age 20 while bravely protecting his fellow soldiers.

When he was a child, Kravitz lived on the Upper East Side of Manhattan during the week and spent weekends with his grandmother in Brooklyn. He showed an interest in music very early. At age three, he started playing drums using pots and pans from the kitchen. By age five, he knew he wanted to be a musician. He learned to play the drums and guitar.

His parents supported his love for music and took him to many concerts. When he was seven, he saw the Jackson 5 at Madison Square Garden, and they became his favorite group. His father was friends with many jazz legends like Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, and Miles Davis. Duke Ellington even played "Happy Birthday" for him on his fifth birthday.

In 1974, when Kravitz 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, listening to bands like the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and Jimi Hendrix. He attended Beverly Hills High School with future celebrities like Nicolas Cage and Slash. He taught himself to play piano and bass. His parents divorced in 1985.

Career

1985–1990: Starting His Music Career

In the beginning, record companies told Kravitz his music wasn't "black enough" or "white enough." So, he decided to record an album on his own, using the name Romeo Blue. He worked with a recording engineer named Henry Hirsch, who shared his love for real instruments and vintage recording gear.

After making his recordings, he asked his friend Stephen Elvis Smith to help him get a record deal. Soon, five different record labels wanted to sign him. In 1989, he signed with Virgin Records. He decided to use his real name, Lenny Kravitz, instead of Romeo Blue.

His first album, Let Love Rule, was released in 1989. It was a mix of rock and funk with a 1960s feel. The album was a huge hit in Europe. He then went on tour, opening for famous artists like Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and David Bowie.

1991–2001: Becoming a Global Star

Kravitz and Craig Ross during a concert

In 1990, Kravitz co-wrote and produced the song "Justify My Love" for Madonna. The song was a big hit. In 1991, he released his second album, Mama Said. The album was about his feelings after his breakup with Lisa Bonet. The song "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" became a top hit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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

In 1998, he released the album 5. For the song "Fly Away" from this album, he won his first Grammy Award. This was the first of four Grammy awards he would win in a row for this category.

His cover of the song "American Woman" won him another Grammy in 2000. In 2001, his song "Again" earned him his third consecutive Grammy. He also worked with Michael Jackson on his album Invincible.

2006–2011: New Projects and Tours

Kravitz performing in 2012

On July 7, 2007, Kravitz performed at the Live Earth concert in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to raise awareness about the environment. He also started a design company called Kravitz Design, which works on furniture and interior design.

In 2008, he released the album It Is Time for a Love Revolution. He made his first movie appearance in the film Precious in 2009. In 2011, he released another album, Black and White America. That same year, he received a high honor in France, becoming an Officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

2012–present: Acting and Recent Music

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

Kravitz became well-known to a new generation of fans for his role as Cinna in the movies The Hunger Games (2012) and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013).

In 2014, he released his tenth album, Strut. In 2015, he performed with Katy Perry during the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show, one of the most-watched television events.

Kravitz performing at the 2016 Democratic National Convention

He released his eleventh album, Raise Vibration, in 2018. In 2023, he wrote and performed the song "Road to Freedom" for the movie Rustin, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

In March 2024, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His 12th album, Blue Electric Light, was released on May 24, 2024.

Personal life

Kravitz with his daughter Zoë in March 2010

In 1985, Kravitz met actress Lisa Bonet. They became close friends and later married in Las Vegas on November 16, 1987. They have a daughter, Zoë Isabella Kravitz, who was born on December 1, 1988. Zoë is now a successful actress, singer, and model. Kravitz and Bonet divorced in 1993 but have remained good friends.

Kravitz has also dated French singer Vanessa Paradis and was engaged to Brazilian model Adriana Lima and Australian actress Nicole Kidman.

Kravitz identifies as a Christian. He has said 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 mostly raw vegan diet and grows his own food on his properties. 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

Film

Television

Images for kids

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  Kravitz performing at Untold Festival in 2024

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  Kravitz performing in 2012

See also

In Spanish: Lenny Kravitz para niños