Leonard Albert Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an American singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. His debut albumLet Love Rule (1989) was characterized by a blend ofrock,funk,reggae,hard rock,soul, andR&B, along with his subsequent releases.
Kravitz has had hit singles, including "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" (1991) and "Again" (2000), both of which peaked within theBillboard Hot 100's top ten. His 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), all of which peaked within the top ten of theAlternative Airplay chart. Kravitz has won several awards, including theGrammy Award forBest Male Rock Vocal Performance, which he received four years in a row from 1999 to 2002,[2] breaking the record for most wins in that category, and setting the record for most consecutive wins in one category by a male performer. Kravitz has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and was ranked 93 onVH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock".[3]
Aside from his music career, Kravitz has acted in films includingPrecious (2009) and the first two installments ofThe Hunger Games film series (2012–13). In addition, he also founded the creative studio Kravitz Design Inc. Kravitz was previously married toLisa Bonet, with whom he has a daughter,Zoë Kravitz.
Kravitz was born on May 26, 1964, inNew York City,[4] the only child ofNBC television news producer Sy Kravitz (1924–2005) and actressRoxie Roker (1929–1995).[5] His mother came from aChristian family that was of African American and Bahamian descent.[6][7][8][9] His grandfather wasRussian-Jewish.[10][11][12] Kravitz's paternal grandparents emigrated to the United States fromKyiv.[13] Through his mother, Kravitz is asecond cousin of television weather presenterAl Roker,[14] as their grandfathers were brothers.[15] Kravitz was named after his uncle,Leonard M. Kravitz, aprivate first class who was killed in action in theKorean War at the age of 20, while single-handedly holding off a Chinese attack, enabling most of his platoon to escape.[16][a]
During his early years, Kravitz did not grow up in a religious environment.[18] After a spiritual experience when he was 13, he started attending church and later became anon-denominational Christian.[18][19] Kravitz grew up spending weekdays on theUpper East Side of Manhattan with his parents, attendingP.S. 6 for elementary school, and spending weekends at his grandmother Bessie's house in theBedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood ofBrooklyn.[20]
Kravitz began banging on pots and pans in the kitchen, playing them as drums at the age of three. He decided that he wanted to be a musician at the age of five. He began playing the drums and soon added guitar. He grew up listening to the music his parents listened to:R&B,jazz, classical, opera,gospel, andblues. He said, "My parents were very supportive of the fact that I loved music early on, and they took me to a lot of shows."[21][22] Around the age of seven, he sawthe Jackson 5 perform atMadison Square Garden, and they became his favorite performers.[23] His father, who was a jazz promoter, was friends withDuke Ellington,Sarah Vaughan,Count Basie,Ella Fitzgerald,Bobby Short,Miles Davis, and other jazz greats; Ellington played "Happy Birthday" for him on his fifth birthday.[24][25][26]
With record labels reportedly telling him his music was not "black enough" or "white enough", Kravitz decided to record an album on his own under the name Romeo Blue.[20] Kravitz had met the recording engineer, keyboardist, and bassist Henry Hirsch in 1985 when recording a demo at hisHoboken, New Jersey, recording studio. The two shared an interest in using real instruments and vintage recording equipment, as well as a love of R&B, jazz, and rock. Kravitz would go on to collaborate with Hirsch on most of his albums. Kravitz began working on his debut album with Hirsch over the next year and a half, with Kravitz's father paying for the studio time. Kravitz met saxophonistKarl Denson and invited him to play on the song "Let Love Rule". Kravitz was so impressed with his playing that Denson played on much of the album. Beginning in the late 1980s, Denson toured with Kravitz for five years.[30]
In October 1988, after completing most of the recording, Kravitz approached friend Stephen Elvis Smith, who had served as the music supervisor onLisa Bonet'sThe Cosby Show spin-offA Different World. Smith had also worked with Kravitz's mother on the hit sitcomThe Jeffersons. Kravitz urged Smith to manage his career and assist him in finding a record deal. In less than a month of shopping the recordings, five labels (Warner Bros, Elektra, Geffen, Capitol, and Virgin) were in a bidding war for Kravitz. Eventually, a deal was made with Virgin Records in January 1989, and signed by Virgin A&R executive Nancy Jeffries. The label was "excited" about the music he was making, music inspired by his relationship with wife Bonet and their new daughter, Zoe. On Smith's urging, Kravitz dropped the name Romeo Blue and reclaimed the Lenny Kravitz moniker. About his time as Romeo Blue, Kravitz said, "Ultimately, it got me back to myself. And when I finally did accept myself for myself, music started flowing out of me."[22]
Kravitz released his debut albumLet Love Rule in 1989, a combination of rock and funk with a 1960s vibe. Music critics were mixed: some felt Kravitz was a gifted new artist, others felt he was overpowered by his musical influences. The album was a moderate success in the United States, but became an instant hit outside of the US, especially in Europe. Lisa Bonet directed the debut music video for the title track, "Let Love Rule". Stephen Smith signed Kravitz with talent booking agency CAA, who soon were fielding offers for Kravitz, first on a club tour, and then in opening slots forTom Petty & the Heartbreakers,Bob Dylan, and David Bowie. Having played essentially all of the instruments on the album, Kravitz had to quickly assemble a touring band to support theLet Love Rule release. In May 2009, a 20th-anniversary deluxe edition ofLet Love Rule was released worldwide by Virgin. Kravitz launched the LLR(20) tour of Europe and the United States in support of the re-release.[31][32][33]
Kravitz separated from Lisa Bonet in 1991,[34] amid rumors of an affair between him and Madonna. Kravitz has denied any infidelity.[34] Kravitz and Bonet divorced in 1993. Kravitz produced the self-titled albumVanessa Paradis (1991) for French singer and actressVanessa Paradis. He played most of the instruments and co-wrote most of the songs on the album.
In 1991, Kravitz released his second album,Mama Said. The songs on the album were about Bonet and documented his depression over their breakup.[25] The single, "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over", went to number 2 on theBillboard Hot 100. A second single "Always on the Run", a tribute to his mother,[25] featuredSlash on guitar. "Stand by My Woman" and "What Goes Around Comes Around" followed.Sean Lennon co-wrote and played piano on the song "All I Ever Wanted".[20]
In 1994, Kravitz recorded "Main Squeeze" withTeena Marie from herPassion Play album. Kravitz also made a video to pay tribute to Marie when she suddenly died on December 26, 2010. He recorded a funk-rock version of the song "Deuce" for theKiss cover albumKiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved. The track featuredStevie Wonder on harmonica and background vocals.[37]
Kravitz released aGreatest Hits album in 2000. The single "Again" earned him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal at theGrammy Awards of 2001.
2006–2009: Live Earth, charity work, andIt Is Time for a Love Revolution
In January 2006, Kravitz contributed "Breathe" to absoluttracks, a project sponsored byAbsolut Vodka. This song was re-mixed by ten musical producers and distributed via the internet. Kravitz appeared in the audience of Madonna'sConfessions Tour (2006) during numerous shows. He later joined Madonna live on stage to play guitar on the song, "I Love New York", at the last of four Paris shows. Kravitz founded a design firm named Kravitz Design, stating if he hadn't been a musician he would have been a designer. Kravitz Design, focused on interior and furniture design, has designed residential spaces, as well as a chandelier for the crystal companySwarovski, named "Casino Royale".[39]
In June 2010 it was announced that Kravitz would guest star on an episode of the upcoming season ofEntourage.[45]
In 2011 Kravitz was honored with one of the highest cultural awards in France when he was made an Officer of theOrdre des Arts et des Lettres by French cultural minister Frederic Mitterrand in Paris. Kravitz stated he was "particularly touched" to receive the award in France as his success in the country pre-dated his success in the United States and still enjoys great record sales in the country today.[46] Kravitz joined other American recipients such asMartin Scorsese,George Clooney, and Bob Dylan. On February 26, 2012, he performed at the Daytona International Speedway for the Daytona 500, the opening race of the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. A sample of "Are You Gonna Go My Way" was used in American singerChris Willis's single "Too Much In Love", released on August 16, 2011.[47]
2012–present:The Hunger Games films, Super Bowl performance, and further albums
Lenny Kravitz played the part of Katniss's creative stylist, Cinna, in the first twoHunger Games films,The Hunger Games released on March 23, 2012,[48] andThe Hunger Games: Catching Fire released on November 22, 2013.
In 2015, he became a furniture designer for the first time ever, launching a collection of furniture products marketed under the label CB2 x Kravitz design through retailer CB2.[55] The collection was apparently inspired by the 70s and by the work of Italian designerGabriella Crespi.[56]
TheRaise Vibration world tour[57] (2018) coincided with the release of his 11th studio album.[58][59]
In April 2018, Kravitz signed withBMG Rights Management for a new worldwide publishing music deal to go with his new albumRaise Vibration, released in September 2018.[60] BMG had acquired Kravitz's music publishing rights in 2013, as part ofVirgin Music Publishing.[61]
Kravitz has partnered withLeica on two occasions: in 2015, a Leica M-P edition titled "The Correspondent", and again in 2019 with a Monochrom edition titled "Drifter". The 2019 collaboration also included a gallery of his own work, which was unveiled on May 24, 2019, and was on display at the Leica Gallery in Wetzlar Germany.[65][66]
Kravitz Design is a New York City–based company founded by Kravitz in 2003.[67] Kravitz Design focuses on commercial, residential and product creative direction and design.[67]
Among its clients are theMorgans Hotel Group,Swarovski Crystal, and The Setai Group.[68] Swarovski selected Kravitz Design in 2005 and 2006 to participate in their Crystal Palace Collection.[69] Kravitz Design also envisioned a luxury recording studio for The Setai Resort and Residences inMiami Beach, New York, Paris, andNew Orleans.[70] In 2010, Kravitz Design collaborated with Flavor Paper wallpaper on the Tropicalismo Collection, a line inspired by Brazil'sTropicalia art movement of the late 1960s.[71]
In 1985, Kravitz met actressLisa Bonet backstage at a concert in California.[72] They were close friends for two years before beginning a relationship.[72] In 1987, Kravitz moved back to New York City, to move in with Bonet.[73] They eloped inLas Vegas on November 16, 1987, her 20th birthday.[72] Kravitz, still known as Romeo Blue at the time, found himself in the headlines of tabloids. He and Bonet had a daughter,Zoë Isabella Kravitz, on December 1, 1988,[74] who became an actress, singer and model. Kravitz and Bonet separated in 1991.[34] They divorced amicably in 1993.[73]
Kravitz dated French singer and modelVanessa Paradis from 1991 to 1996.[75][76] He began dating Brazilian modelAdriana Lima in 2001,[77] and they lived together before becoming engaged in 2002.[77] The engagement was called off in August 2003.[77][78][79] Lima was featured in the music video for Kravitz's 2002 single "Yesterday Is Gone (My Dear Kay)".[80] He briefly dated and was engaged to Australian actressNicole Kidman from 2003 to 2004.[81]
Kravitz identifies himself as a Christian in a religious sense "through choice" but stated: "I'm also a Jew. It's all the same to me."[82] During another interview, he stated: "I'm half Jewish, I'm half black, I look in-between."[83] He notes that spirituality "has been an important issue in [his] growth", citing his upbringing by parents of different faiths.[84] Such spirituality is prominently featured in many of his songs, such as the lyrics on his albumBaptism, and a tattoo on his back which is inscribed with "My Heart Belongs to Jesus Christ".[85] In 2011, he stated that his 2005 religious commitment to remaincelibate until remarriage was unchanged. In a 2014 interview withMen's Health, however, he reconsidered his previous stance.[86][87][88] In 2024, Kravitz reaffirmed his desire to remain celibate once again, stating that it was his father's infidelity that inspired him to make a change. "After the marriage, [to ex-wife Lisa Bonet] I became more like him. I was becoming a player... I didn't like it. I didn't want to be that guy. So I had to tackle that and it took years... by taking responsibility. Discipline. Not letting my own desires take over."[89] Kravitz stated in the same interview that he had not been in a romantic relationship for 9 years at that point.[89][90]
He owns a house in Paris,[91] a farm compound in Brazil,[92] and a trailer with the surrounding land inThe Bahamas.[93]
He followsveganism[94] with a primarilyraw vegan diet,[93] and uses his land in Brazil and The Bahamas to grow his own food.[93]PETA named Kravitz one of the Most Beautiful Vegan Celebrities of 2022.[95]
^Leonard M. Kravitz was posthumously awarded theDistinguished Service Cross but was denied theMedal of Honor.[16] In 2014, he received the Medal of Honor in a ceremony that awarded it to 24 servicemen who had been passed over because of their ethnicity or religion.[17]
^Phull, Hardeep (September 27, 2014)."Lenny Kravitz: My childhood New York".New York Post.Archived from the original on November 23, 2020. RetrievedMay 8, 2018.Lenny Kravitz: "It was my fifth birthday and my parents took me to see Duke Ellington here. At the sound check, I sat on his lap and during the show, he and his band played 'Happy Birthday' to me."
^Hosley, Steve (November 20, 2012)."NEW AGAIN: LENNY KRAVITZ".Interview Magazine.Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. RetrievedMay 21, 2018.Lenny Kravitz: "My dad was a producer on the side. I think he did one of Patti Austin's first recordings, when she was around 13 years old. My dad used to take me to jazz concerts. I got to sit on Duke Ellington's lap when he played."
^«C'est chez vous que tout a commencé pour ma carrière, raconte-t-il. J'ai donné un concert auxTransmusicales de Rennes en 1989. Le lendemain, la presse était extatique. Ils avaient, en toute modestie, découvert un génie»
^Hosley, Steve (November 20, 2012)."New Again: Lenny Kravitz".Interview Magazine.Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. RetrievedMay 21, 2018.Lenny Kravitz: "My dad was a producer on the side. I think he did one of Patti Austin's first recordings, when she was around 13 years old. My dad used to take me to jazz concerts. I got to sit on Duke Ellington's lap when he played."[verification needed]
^"96th Oscars Shortlists in 10 Award Categories Announced".Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 21, 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
Scarlett MacDougal's book series "Have a Nice Life", refers to the main girl's "intergalactic angel/fairy godmother" as a Lenny Kravitz lookalike, though his actual name is Clarence Terence.ISBN0-14-131020-0
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