Few artists have the expertise and flexibility of Lenny Kravitz, who is understood for mixing numerous genres and sustaining a profession that straddles practically 5 a long time. Identified for his stellar songwriting, electrical reside performances and distinctive vocal type, this completed musician is a powerhouse within the recording trade and an simple affect on many younger singers at this time. If all that wasn’t sufficient, Lenny obtained a nomination to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2024.
This bio explores the life and extraordinary profession of this celebrity and intercourse image, specializing in his music, design work, philanthropic endeavors and unquestionable affect on style. You’ll additionally find out about Lenny Kravitz’s relationships, how he bought his massive break, and the way he survived so lengthy within the enterprise. Even should you’re an enormous Lenny fan, maybe you’ll uncover one thing new about this celebrity.
Formative years and background
Leonard Albert Kravitz, recognized to the world as Lenny Kravitz, was born in Brooklyn, New York, on Could 26, 1964. His father is Jewish, and his mom is African-American. Due to his combined racial identification, Lenny obtained derogatory remarks from his friends as a baby. In an interview with Piers Morgan on CNN, he stated:
“Children used to name me ‘zebra’ or ‘panda.’ My mom was ‘Mrs. Night time,’ and my father was ‘Mr. Day.’ But it surely by no means bothered me.”
In the case of his origin, Lenny has embraced being each Black and Jewish. In a “Masters of the Sport” interview with theGrio in 2024, he says:
“We’re all the identical. All of us come from the identical supply. So I feel having that blend is fantastic.”
Lenny got here from a rich residence. His father was a TV producer, and his mom performed Helen Willis on the massively in style sitcom “The Jeffersons.” Maybe rising up within the leisure trade ignited a ardour for the performing arts. Lenny rapidly developed a love for music, realized to play a number of devices and joined a choir. He additionally enrolled within the music program at college.
His musical influences? Soul, jazz and rock, to call only a few. Lenny says:
“Miles Davis, The Jackson 5, Stevie Marvel, Curtis Mayfield, Al Inexperienced, Gladys Knight and the Pips — that was my basis. I didn’t even get into rock music till I moved to L.A. after I was 11. That’s after I bought launched to Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, and Cream and The Who. That music, combined with the funk and R&B and soul and gospel and jazz I had grown up with, comes out in what I do. It made me who I’m.”
In the case of Lenny Kravitz’s mother and father, the singer says he was near his mother rising up however had a topsy-turvy relationship together with his dad, which led to him transferring out of the household residence in some unspecified time in the future in his teenagers. He lived in a rented Ford Pinto for some time as he pursued a profession in music.
Throughout this time, numerous document labels provided Lenny offers. Nevertheless, he turned them down as a result of he didn’t need to make in style music and compromise his inventive integrity. Good Life Detroit says:
“For Lenny Kravitz, the artwork of the story is paramount, whereas pop music tendencies are immaterial. He tells tales by his writing, vocals, and the multitude of devices he has mastered over time.”
Groundbreaking profession in music
Lenny’s profession spans 5 a long time, making him one of the profitable musical artists in historical past. Find out about how he bought his massive break, his most important recordings and the way he influenced the rock style.
Rise to fame
Earlier than turning into a solo artist, Lenny was a member of the band Wave, which experimented with numerous genres. Due to this, they failed to achieve a following.
Regardless of this setback, Lenny continued to pursue a profession within the trade. Within the mid-80s, he met Henry Hirsch, a keyboardist and sound engineer, and the 2 recorded music utilizing classic gear. This partnership led to the recording of Lenny’s debut single, “Let Love Rule,” which got here out in 1989 and hit No. 89 on the Billboard Sizzling 100. It accompanied an album of the identical identify, which reached No. 61 on the Billboard 200. Lenny’s spouse on the time — Lisa Bonet, who appeared on “The Cosby Present” and is the mom of his daughter, Zoë — wrote lyrics to a number of songs on the album.
Notable albums and hits
Right here’s a listing of Lenny’s studio albums in chronological order:
Let Love Rule (1989)
Mama Mentioned (1991)
Are You Gonna Go My Manner? (1993)
Circus (1995)
5 (1998)
Lenny (2001)
Baptism (2004)
It’s Time For a Love Revolution (2008)
Black and White America (2011)
Strut (2014)
Increase Vibration (2018)
Blue Electrical Mild (2024)
Lenny’s most profitable album on the Billboard 200 is his 2001 compilation “Best Hits,” which simply missed the highest spot and peaked at No. 2.
Among the most profitable Lenny Kravitz songs on the charts embody:
It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over (1991)
Imagine (1993)
Can’t Get You Off My Thoughts (1996)
Fly Away (1998)
American Girl (1999)
Once more (2000)
Dig In (2001)
Woman (2004)
Lenny’s most profitable single chart-wise? “It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over” peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Sizzling 100. He’s additionally had important success internationally, with hit albums and singles within the U.Ok., Canada, Australia and different nations.
Influence on rock music
Defining Lenny’s musical type could be troublesome as he’s experimented with so many genres over time. Nevertheless, one of many hallmarks of his distinctive sound is rock, which you’ll hear on recordings comparable to “Fly Away” and “Are You Gonna Go My Manner.” Lenny fuses rock and soul music in a means that few different artists can.
Lenny performs many varieties of guitars, however he’s most related to the Gibson Flying V. He’s additionally collaborated with rock artists like Slash, who seems on the tune “At all times on the Run.”
Due to his affect on the rock style, Lenny has gained a number of Greatest Male Rock Vocal Awards on the Grammys. In 2024, Lenny accepted the International Influence Award from the Recording Academy for his artistry and immense affect on rock music.
Kravitz as a mode icon
Instyle named Lenny one of many “best-dressed males” on the 2024 Grammys. That is simply one of many accolades he’s obtained over time for his distinctive and daring private type.
Signature style aesthetic
The signature Lenny Kravitz type has advanced over time. Nevertheless, he’s all the time balanced “haute-couture items” and “rockstar necessities,” in response to famend style magazine The Rake. When reviewing Lenny’s aesthetic over his profession, the publication says:
“It’s not for everybody, however the way in which Kravitz fashions his private type is how he stays so timeless—not solely as a musician but additionally as an icon. Like Prince or David Bowie, if his physique of labor rejects being pigeonholed right into a single style, his type is not any much less eclectic.”
Among the singer’s “finest and boldest” seems, in response to style journal The Root, embody his unbuttoned blazer and striped pant combo on the 1990 American Music Awards and the not-to-everyone’s-taste white shirt and pants with flip-flop ensemble on the 1998 MTV Film Awards.
Lenny obtained the CFDA Style Icon Award in November 2022.
Collaborations with designers
Working with totally different designers all through this profession has allowed Lenny to experiment with every kind of types. One in every of his most notable collaborations is with Saint Laurent, who made the singer the face of its perfume line in 2020. You’ll learn extra about that later.
In 2024, Lenny partnered with the eyewear model Ray-Ban for a group that emphasizes sustainable practices and supplies, together with recycled packaging and bio-based plastics. In keeping with Fashionable Luxurious, this collaboration aligns with Lenny’s long-time advocacy round environmental points.
Kravitz Design: A enterprise into design
In addition to being an completed musician and magnificence icon, Lenny has ventured into structure and inside design, together with his Kravitz Design agency turning into one of many largest achievements in his profession.
Overview of Kravitz Design
Described as a “conceptual inventive studio,” Kravitz Design, established in 2003, primarily focuses on interiors, branding, industrial design and graphic design. Architectural Design says:
“The rock legend has utilized his Midas contact to a broad array of eye-catching properties and hospitality initiatives around the globe, each meticulously keyed to the exigencies of website and context.”
Notable initiatives and achievements
A few of Kravitz Design’s work contains:
Creating residence furnishings for the retailer CB2. In keeping with the Kravitz Design web site, the gathering incorporates “wealthy woods, trendy frames, metals combined with daring prints, and customizable upholstery.”
Designing the interiors for the posh No 75 Kenmare rental constructing in New York Metropolis.
Restoring and furnishing a non-public residence in Brazil referred to as Fazenda Sao Tome.
Cultural affect and neighborhood engagement
Lenny’s affect on tradition contains giving again to the neighborhood as a part of his philanthropic work. He was additionally the worldwide ambassador for style home Yves Saint Laurent’s perfume line, showing in commercials that aired around the globe.
Position as a worldwide ambassador for Yves Saint Laurent Beauté
In 2004, Yves Saint Laurent introduced Lenny as the worldwide ambassador for its perfume franchise. This position entails the star selling the model in a number of nations.
Speaking to Numero journal, Lenny says:
“I’ve been within the creations of Mr. Yves Saint Laurent since I used to be an adolescent. My very own mom used to put on his garments and perfumes. So, the home has all the time been a part of my life. Even at this time, I really feel prefer it matches nicely with my picture and persona.”
Philanthropy and social duty
Lenny has championed a number of non-profits throughout his time within the highlight, together with Artists Towards Racism, Rock the Vote, Elevate Hope Basis and Harlem Faculty of the Arts. He even recorded a John Lennon tune for a CD that raised funds for Amnesty Worldwide.
Seemingly conscious of this social duty, Lenny stated in an interview with Individuals journal that he’s at some extent in his life the place “it’s all about service” as a result of there are “so many individuals that want care.” He additionally revealed:
“I used to be considering yesterday, ‘Man, I simply need to promote every thing I personal.’ There are plenty of issues I can eliminate that aren’t necessary to me anymore, and even when they’re, no more necessary than serving to any person.”
Private reflections on artistry
Lenny has talked about his artistry in numerous interviews and what evokes him each in his profession and private life. Listed below are a few of his reflections:
Insights on creativity and inspiration
“Artwork does mirror humanity. It’s a gorgeous factor. I personally do imagine in God. I imagine we’re all given presents of all totally different varieties. All of us have a particular, distinctive reward. A few of us don’t like to make use of our presents or don’t acknowledge them, and typically we miss it.”
“Individuals all the time accuse me of being motivational in a means, prefer it was a nasty factor, however that’s simply how I used to be raised. My mother raised me in a optimistic setting, with plenty of love in my coronary heart, and that displays in my music.”
“My reward has been music and artwork and creativity usually, and I’m humbled by it. I don’t take credit score for it I’m simply grateful I get to do the issues that I do with that reward, whether or not it’s music, whether or not it’s images, whether or not it’s design, whether or not it’s appearing — no matter it might be. It’s given me a strategy to categorical myself.”
The Significance of household and neighborhood
[On his daughter, Zoë] “What’s nice about her is that she’s all the time been her personal individual. She didn’t need folks judging her and seeing her in a sure means due to who her mother and father had been, and that’s fantastic as a result of plenty of children like to make use of that for the eye.”
“My mom and my grandfather had a really shut relationship — to the purpose the place, as an adolescent, I believed it was ridiculous. I might simply say, like, ‘You guys are on prime of one another on a regular basis.’ They liked one another, they usually valued one another. So, after I see the connection between Zoë and myself, I see the connection between my mom and my grandfather. It makes me very comfortable that we’ve elevated to that stage.”
“I simply needed a seat at our desk as a result of I like our desk. I come from that. I grew up round these Black pioneers who had been in my mom’s group of buddies, and I’m deeply rooted in our Black tradition.”
Evolution of favor all through profession
Each Lenny’s musical and style types have advanced considerably over time. He continues to reinvent himself, taking inspiration from totally different genres and aesthetics. This helps him reconnect together with his core fanbase and entice new folks to his work.
In the case of music, Lenny’s debut album had extra of a retro vibe and sound, taking affect from the Nineteen Sixties Summer season of Love motion. Over time, this sound developed, with Sacramento’s KZAP radio station noting that Lenny quickly moved away from the “flower-power points of his music” towards a “heavier rock sound.” This resulted in wider industrial attraction, with songs like “Are You Gonna Go My Manner” and “American Girl” turning into main hits.
Lenny has explored many different genres outdoors of rock and soul. For instance, in 1990, he sampled a beat from the Public Enemy tune “Safety of the First World” when writing the tune “Justify My Love” for Madonna.
As a style icon, Lenny gained considerably of a status for his “funky, eclectic” type that integrated, amongst different issues, plunging necklines, bell-bottom trousers and colourful jumpsuits, in response to Grazia journal. Whereas his type remains to be distinctive, you’re extra more likely to see Lenny in a trendy swimsuit at a crimson carpet occasion these days.
Affect on modern tradition
Lenny is an affect on many recording artists and has helped popularize numerous style tendencies.
Influence on upcoming artists
As a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, Lenny has made an affect on many artists in several genres, together with up-and-coming artists like Steve Lacy. In an interview with Billboard journal, Steve instructed Lenny why he’s such an inspiration to him:
“It’s loopy. I grew up watching guys such as you and D’Angelo and Prince — you had been my position fashions. And as time progressed within the land of the auto-tune and the 808s, I didn’t actually suppose there was a spot for me. Like, possibly I’m too late, you recognize? It’s stunning to see it’s obtained such as you guys had been obtained, even on this trendy time.”
Contribution to style tendencies
“Few stars embody the fusion of rock-and-roll grit and high-fashion sophistication fairly like Lenny Kravitz,” says style journal FashionBeans. Among the many tendencies Lenny has helped popularize embody leather-based pants, bohemium shirts, structured jackets, outsized scarves and, in fact, aviator sun shades.
