Lenny Kravitz biography
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz (born May 26, 1964) is an United States singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and arrangement whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock music, soul music, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic rock, traditional music and ballad (music).
In addition to singing lead and backing vocals, Kravitz often plays all the guitar, bass guitar, drums, musical keyboard, and percussion instrument himself when recording. He won the Grammy Award for "Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance" four years in a row from 1999 to 2002. He has sold an estimated 32 million
albums worldwide.
Biography
Early life
Kravitz was born in New York City, New York, the son of Roxie Roker, an actress known for her character Jeffersons supporting characters Helen Douglas Willis in the 1970s hit television sitcom
The Jeffersons, and Sy Kravitz, an NBC television news producer. Kravitz's father was of History of the Jews in Ukraine descent and his mother was of Bahamian descent. Though biracial, Kravitz identifies more with his Bahamian heritage and is widely recognized as an African American, although he still considers himself Jewish. . Kravitz was named after his uncle, Private First Class, 1951 near Yangpyeong, Korea at the age of 20. PFC. Kravitz fearlessly defended against a surprise Chinese Army attack, saving most of his platoon; he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (United States), the second highest military decoration of the United States Army.
Kravitz grew up spending weekdays on the Upper East Side of Manhattan attending P.S. 6 on 81st and Madison with his parents at his grandmother Bessie Roker's house in the Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn neighborhood of Brooklyn. Kravitz began banging on pots and pans in the kitchen, playing them as drums at the age of three. At the age of five, he wanted to be a musician. He began playing the Drum kit and soon added guitar. Kravitz grew up listening to the music his parents listened to: rhythm and blues, jazz, classical music, opera, gospel music, and blues. "My parents were very supportive of the fact that I loved music early on, and they took me to a lot of shows," Kravitz said. Around the age of 7, he saw The Jackson 5 perform at Madison Square Garden, which became his favorite group. His father, who was also a jazz promoter, was friends with Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Short, Miles Davis and other jazz greats. Ellington even played "Happy Birthday to You" for him one year when he was about 5. Kravitz wanted to be a session musician. He also appeared as an actor in television commercials during this time.
Kravitz went to school enough to pass, but was spending more and more time Jam session with friends. His parents became concerned, wanting him to have something to fall back on. At the age of 15, determined to have a music career, Kravitz moved out of his house. He stayed with friends, slept in friends' cars, and at one point was even sleeping in his Ford Pinto. Inspired by David Bowie and The New York Dolls, Kravitz adopted the nom de guerre, "Romeo Blue," a new persona complete with straightened hair, eyeliner and mascara, and blue contact lenses, and began performing. Kravitz's music at this time was heavily influenced by the synth-laden funk pop of Prince (musician). In 1982, Kravitz graduated from Beverly Hills High School and convinced his father to give him money to record instead of spending money on college. With his first demo (music), Kravitz received offers from several record labels, including I.R.S. Records, but Kravitz was told he needed to change his music to either make it "black enough" to fit in with current radio-friendly R & B styles or to make it "whiter" to work as a rock artist. "I refused," Kravitz told the
Los Angeles Times in 1989. He also notes that spirituality "has been an important issue in my growth", given his upbringing by parents of different faiths. Such spirituality is prominently featured on many of his songs, such as the lyrics on his album
Baptism, and having his back inscribed with a tattoo stating, "My Heart Belongs to Jesus Christ." During another interview, he quipped "I'm half Jewish, I'm half black, I look in-between."
1990s, early career
In 1990, Kravitz co-wrote with Ingrid Chavez and produced the song "Justify My Love" for Madonna (entertainer). The song, which appeared on her greatest hits album
The Immaculate Collection and created controversy because of its explicit video, went to 1. Kravitz separated from Lisa Bonet in 1991, amid rumors of an affair between him and Madonna. Kravitz has denied any infidelity. Kravitz's biggest single yet, "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over", went to 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The single "Always on the Run", a tribute to his mother,. One song, "Eleutheria", was influenced by the island Eleuthera in The Bahamas where Kravitz built a house and recording studio at that time.
On July 7, 2007, Kravitz performed at the Live Earth concert, Rio de Janeiro of Live Earth in Rio de Janeiro
Also in 2007, Kravitz released a version of "Cold Turkey" by John Lennon on the charity CD
Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. Kravitz also spent time recording his latest album,
It Is Time for a Love Revolution, released February 5, 2008. Another album,
Funk (Lenny Kravitz album), is scheduled to be released in early 2009. This is believed to be a project that Kravitz has been working on since 1997. Some of the original tracks for Funk were recorded while he was in New Orleans at Allen Toussaint's studio while taking a break for several months from recording in New York City.
On September 25, 2007, the Fats Domino tribute album "Goin' Home ; A Tribute To Fats Domino" was released. Kravitz was on the song "Whole Lotta Lovin'" along with Rebirth Brass Band, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker.
Kravitz performed at the Grey Cup halftime show in Toronto at the Rogers Centre on November 25, 2007, where the Saskatchewan Roughriders beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19.
The original video for "I'll Be Waiting (Lenny Kravitz song)" was shot in Central Park in New York City with Marc Webb directing but that video was later shelved and a new version, which Kravitz co-directed with Philip Andelman, was filmed in Lenny's New York City recording studio. The video premiered on VH1's Top 20 Countdown at number 3.
On January 17, 2008, Kravitz embarked on a 9 city mini-tour to promote his new album
It Is Time for a Love Revolution. The tour started in Santa Monica, California and ended in New York City on February 1st. The tour was done in association with Myspace and called the "Get on the Bus" tour. At each stop on the tour, they would pick up one contest winner and their guest and they rode on the "Love Revolution" bus until the end of the tour. Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, a close friend of Lenny's would appear at The Orpheum Theater in Boston. The New York City winner, Tyrone Good was presented a train ticket from Penn Station to travel to Philadelphia and rode with the tour the rest of the way starting in Philadelphia (The Electric Factory), Boston (The Orpheum Theater), and finally New York City (The Hammerstein Ballroom). The winners were featured in the YRB February Edition alongside Lenny Kravitz in a magazine pull-out. The photo shoot took place at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia on stage. The winner's pull out was featured in another issue of YRB which had Lil' Wayne on the cover.
On February 11, 2008, Kravitz was admitted to Miami Hospital suffering from severe bronchitis. He had been suffering from a series of severe respiratory tract infections since mid-January, and the illness developed into bronchitis.
Kravitz's illness had forced him to postpone Canadian dates & his trip to Europe to promote his album
It Is Time for a Love Revolution. On March 19, 2008 he canceled the South American part of his tour due to the same illness. The decision affected planned concerts in Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. In Argentina Kravitz had a performance in the biggest rock festival there, Quilmes Rock Fest.
In July, 2008, Kravitz teamed up with Levi's jeans and Kohl's department stores for a Love Revolution ad campaign. Kravitz custom designed a Levi's Love Revolution t-shirt especially for Kohl's. In addition to the t-shirt, Levi's also introduced their 511 skinny fit jeans with the Love Revolution ad campaign. Other artists not only performed Kravitz's song "Love Revolution" for the commercials for the ad series, but they also designed a few clothing items for Kohl's as well. The other artists in the Kohl's ad campaign are Avril Lavigne, Plain White T's, Vanessa Carlton, Tony Hawk, and Hayden Panettiere.
Additional
Detroit based rock band Electric Six devoted a song to Kravitz on their fourth album I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Master. The song was entitled Lenny Kravitz, and mentions him by name in the lyrics.
At the New Orleans Jazz Fest in 2001, Kravitz was asked to guest on All Along the Watchtower during Dave Matthews Band's set. Matthews and Kravitz traded lead vocals.
Discography
Albums
Singles
A failed to chart.
B charted as a double A-Side on Billboard Hot 100 singles.
C peaked on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.
D peaked on Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles.
E download only single(s).
F current single(s).
Lenny Kravitz in the news
Mr. Whitman winner reflects - Whitman Pioneer
Mr. Whitman winner reflectsWhitman Pioneer, WA - 10 hours agoWith the help of a crew of surgeons, he was transformed into Lenny Kravitz. He proceeded to dazzle the audience with the Lenny Kravitz’s hit, ...
read moreWho Rock’d It: Usher, Usher, Lenny Kravitz or Terence Howard - Sing...
Who Rock’d It: Usher, Usher, Lenny Kravitz or Terence HowardSingersroom News, NY - Nov 17, 2008Usher, Lenny Kravitz, and Terence Howard were some of the male attendees at the 2008 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show at the Fontainebleau on November 15, ...
read moreHow should you handle your bad reputation? - Examiner.com
Examiner.comHow should you handle your bad reputation?Examiner.com - Nov 20, 2008When Alex and his wife split, it was reported that she ran to Lenny Kravitz (www.lennykravitz.com) to be with him in Paris. One of the saddest things I’d ...
read moreLenny Kravitz tour cancels remaining Canadian shows - Ticket News
Ticket NewsLenny Kravitz tour cancels remaining Canadian showsTicket News, CT - Nov 10, 2008By Jane Cohen & Bob Grossweiner Lenny Kravitz has canceled the remainder of his Canadian tour starting with the November 5 show at GM Place in Vancouver, ...
read moreVictoria's Secret Show, Soirees Rock South Beach - E! Online
E! OnlineVictoria's Secret Show, Soirees Rock South BeachE! Online - Nov 17, 2008While P. Diddy, Terrence Howard, Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Lenny Kravitz, Martha Stewart and John Stamos all scored front row seats to the show and ...
read moreKravitz Cans Canada - Pollstar
Kravitz Cans CanadaPollstar - Nov 5, 2008Lenny Kravitz has canceled the remaining Canadian shows on his current tour citing severe throat problems. Kravitz is not able to sing or talk at this time, ...Lenny Kravitz scraps Canadian run LiveDaily.comall 3 news articles
read moreMalcolm X Abram: 1970s trio Labelle is back in groove with retro al...
Malcolm X Abram: 1970s trio Labelle is back in groove with retro albumAkron Beacon Journal, OH - Nov 17, 2008... with production help from Philly Sound architects Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, former Who manager/producer Kit Lambert and Lenny Kravitz. ...
read moreThroat problems force Kravitz to cancel cancels BC concerts with - ...
p2pnet.netThroat problems force Kravitz to cancel cancels BC concerts withVancouver Sun, Canada - Nov 6, 2008Rock and roll sensation Lenny Kravitz (right) cancelled both his concerts in Vancouver and Victoria due to "severe throat problems," promoter Live Nation ...Lenny Kravitz cancels Victoria show Canada.comThroat problem puts lid on Kravitz's Canadian tour Globe and MailLenny Kravitz fans still awaiting show Metro Canada - VancouverSt. John's Telegram - The Provinceall 10 news articles
read moreLenny Kravitz can't sing or speak - abc7.com
Lenny Kravitz can't sing or speakabc7.com, CA - Nov 10, 2008Lenny Kravitz is calling off the rest of his Canadian tour because he can't even squeak. Kravitz has posted a notice on his Web site saying he must call off ...
read moreCosta Still Has That Something - Lumino Magazine
Costa Still Has That SomethingLumino Magazine, IL - Nov 19, 2008Her 2005 follow up and a tour with Lenny Kravitz, Costa seemed ready to soar to the next level. That climb seems to have been slower then her talent ...
read more