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Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz (born May 26 , 1964 ) is an American Grammy Award -winning Singer , Songwriter , Multi-instrumentalist , Producer , and Arranger whose " Retro " style incorporates elements of Rock , Soul , Funk , Reggae , Hard Rock , Psychedelic , Folk , and Ballads . In addition to singing lead and backing vocals, he often plays all the Guitar , Bass , Drums , Keyboards , and Percussion himself when recording. He won the Grammy Award For Best Male Rock Vocal Performance four years in a row from 1999 to 2002. He was ranked #93 on VH1 's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock". BIOGRAPHY Early life Kravitz was born in , 2007 . Kravitz grew up spending weekdays on the ''. 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 " for him one year when he was about 5. He was exposed to the Soul Music of Motown , Stax , James Brown , Aretha Franklin , Al Green , Stevie Wonder , Curtis Mayfield , Gladys Knight , The Isley Brothers and Gamble And Huff growing up, key influences on his musical style. Kravitz often went to see New York Theater , where his mother worked. His mother encouraged his dreams of pursuing music. In 1974, the Kravitz family relocated to , 2007 . 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 Jamming 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 , Kravitz adopted the Nom De Guerre , "Romeo Blue," a new persona complete with straightened hair and blue contact lenses, and began performing. Kravitz's music at this time was heavily influenced by the synth-laden funk pop of Prince . In 1982, Kravitz graduated from high school and convinced his father to give him money to record instead of spending money on college. With his first Demo , Kravitz received offers from several record labels, including I.R.S. Records , but Kravitz was told he needed to change his music to make it "black enough" to fit in with current radio-friendly styles. "I refused," Kravitz told the '' Los Angeles Times '' in 1989. In 1985, Kravitz's parents divorced which had a profound impact on him. His relationship with his father became extremely strained. Kravitz focused on his music to help him get through this period. That year, Kravitz met actress Lisa Bonet backstage at a New Edition concert. Bonet worked on '' The Cosby Show '', the number one rated show on television. They were close friends for two years before falling in love. Kravitz moved back to New York City where ''The Cosby Show'' was produced in 1987, moving in with now girlfriend Bonet. Kravitz and Bonet Elope d on November 16 , 1987 , her 20th birthday, in a Las Vegas ceremony. Kravitz, still known as Romeo Blue at the time, suddenly found himself in the headlines of Tabloid newspapers. They had a daughter, Zoë Isabella Kravitz, born on December 1 , 1988 . With record labels still telling him his music wasn't "black enough" or "white enough," Kravitz decided to record an album on his own. Kravitz had met Recording Engineer / Keyboardist / Bassist Henry Hirsch in 1985 when recording a demo at his Hoboken, 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 Saxophonist Karl 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. Denson toured with Kravitz for the next 5 years. After completing the album, Kravitz met with Virgin Records . The label was excited about the music he was making, music inspired by his relationship with wife Bonet and their new daughter. Kravitz dropped the name Romeo Blue. 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." Kravitz signed with the Virgin Records in 1989. Kravitz released his debut album ''. Lisa Bonet directed and appeared in his debut music video for the title track, "Let Love Rule". Kravitz set out on the road, first on a club tour, and then an opening slot for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers . 1990s, early career In 1990, Kravitz co-wrote and produced the song " Justify My Love " for Madonna . 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,"Behind The Music: Lenny Kravitz". (1999). amid rumors of an affair between him and Madonna. Kravitz has denied any infidelity. Kravitz and Bonet divorced in 1993. In 1991, Kravitz produced the self-titled album ''''. Retrieved on August 19 2007 Kravitz biggest single yet, " It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over ", went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 . The single "Mama Said", a tribute to his mother, and "Always On The Run", featured Slash 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". In 1993, Kravitz wrote "Line Up" for Aerosmith's Steven Tyler , and appeared on Mick Jagger's solo album, '' Wandering Spirit '', in a cover of the Bill Withers ' soul classic, "Use Me". That year Kravitz also got to work with idols Al Green and Curtis Mayfield . In in The Bahamas where Kravitz built a house and recording studio at that time. In 1993, he also released the EP, ''Spinning Around Over You'', which included four live tracks from his "Universal Love Tour". Kravitz (along with " and "Can't Get You Off My Mind". With '' 5 '' ( 1998 ), Kravitz embraced digital technology such as Pro Tools and Sampler s for the first time. ''5'' introduced his music to an even wider audience thanks to the hit single " Fly Away " being featured prominently in both Car manufacturer and Airline commercials. ''5'' would reach #28 on the Billboard 200, with "Fly Away" reaching #1 on multiple charts. He would win the first of his four consecutive Grammy For Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards Of 1999 . Other hits from the album included "If You Can't Say No", that was also remixed by dance producer Brian Transeau , and " I Belong To You ". In 1999 he produced and sang with Cree Summer on her solo album Street Faerie . 2000-2005 His '' and was added to ''5'' as a bonus track in 1999. Kravitz released a '' Greatest Hits '' album in 2000. It proved to be his most successful album, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 8 million copies worldwide. The single " Again " earned him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards Of 2001 . Kravitz also co-wrote the song "God Gave Me Everything" with Mick Jagger in this period, appearing on Jagger's 2001 solo album '' Goddess In The Doorway ''. Kravitz released his sixth album '' Lenny '' in October 2001. The album was recorded in Miami . Kravitz wrote the song "Bank Robber Man" after the police pulled him over, suspecting him of robbing a bank. When asked if he thought the incident was a case of Racial Profiling , Kravitz said he wasn’t sure. The first single from the album, "Dig In", went to number 1 in Argentina and the top 10 in Italy and Portugal. He won his fourth Grammy in 2002 . "Stillness of Heart", "Believe in Me", and "If I Could Fall In Love" were subsequent singles from the album. ''. Kravitz would also join P. Diddy , Pharrell Williams and Loon on the track "Show Me Your Soul" from the '' Bad Boys II Soundtrack ''. In early 2003, Kravitz released the track "We Want Peace" as a download-only track as a protest against the 2003 Invasion Of Iraq . The track reached #1 on the world internet download charts and MP3.com download chart. Kravitz also appeared on ''Unity'', the official album of the 2004 Athens Olympics . Kravitz's seventh album '' Baptism '' was released in May 2004. The first single was " Where Are We Runnin'? ". The single "California" failed to be commercially succesfull, but "Storm", featuring Jay-Z , reached the charts. "Calling All Angels" was succesful in various countries and a huge hit in Brazil, however it was "Lady" that became the album's surprise hit, making the US Top 30 and propelling "Baptism" to gold status. Also in 2004, he appeared on N.E.R.D's album '' Fly Or Die ''. From March 2005, Kravitz toured all over the world with the tour ''Electric Church'', which ended at the Brixton Academy , London in July 2005. Kravitz served as the opening act for Aerosmith on their fall 2005 tour. 2006-present In January 2006, Kravitz participated in absoluttracks, a project of Absolut Vodka . He was given total freedom to realize a track that reflected his vision of the product, the result was the track "Breathe". Later on, this song was re-mixed by another ten musical producers from the eight most important markets of the vodka brand, the tracks were only available via the internet on the sites www.absolutkravitz.com and www.absoluttracks.com, where there were also wallpapers and videos relating to the subject. Kravitz appeared in the audience of Madonna's Confessions Tour (2006) during numerous shows. He would later join Madonna live on stage to play guitar on the song, "I Love New York," at the last of four Paris shows. Lately, Kravitz has 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 company Swarovsky, named "Casino Royale."Marin, Rick (''. Retrieved on March 15 2007 . On . Kravitz had already played there on March 21 , 2005 , drawing 300,000 people on a concert of his own. The Live Earth concert, with eight other acts on the bill, including Pharrell Williams and Macy Gray , took 400,000 to the beach. Also in 2007, Kravitz released a version of "''. Retrieved on August 19 2007 . Another album, '' Funk '', will also be released in 2008. This is believed to be a project that Kravitz has been working on since 1997. DISCOGRAPHY Albums Singles AWARDS ''' MTV Video Music Award s
''' Brit Award s
Radio Music Award s NOTES REFERENCES
SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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