Lenny Kravitz

 

Lenny Kravitz 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. 

 

Kravitz released his debut album Let Love Rule in the fall of 1989, a combination of rock and funk with a general 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 huge outside of the US, especially in Europe. 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.  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, due to rumors of an affair between him and Madonna and other infidelities. Kravitz and Bonet divorced in 1993.  In 1991, Kravitz produced an album for the French singer Vanessa Paradis. He played most of the instruments and co-wrote most of the songs. He also released his second album, Mama Said, his first album to reach the Top 40. The songs on the album were about his split with Bonet. Kravitz biggest single "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on the Billboard R&B charts. "Always On The Run" (#40 on the mainstream rock chart) featured former classmate Slash, now of Guns N' Roses. "Stand By My Woman", while "What Goes Around Comes Around", which reached the top 40 of the Billboard R&B chart, 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 1993, Are You Gonna Go My Way was released, reaching #12 on the Billboard 200 and Kravitz earned a BRIT Award for best international male artist in 1994. The title track won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video for the video produced by Mark Romanek, in which Kravitz slung his dreadlocks and wore high-heeled platform boots. During the presentation of the MTV Video Music Awards, he performed the song with John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin on bass. The single would reach #1 on the Australian and Billboard mainstream rock charts and #2 on the modern rock charts. Several singles from the album would follow including, "Believe" (#10 on the modern rock chart,) "Is There Any Love In Your Heart", and "Heaven Help/Spinning Around Over You". "Heaven Help" reached #92 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles charts. 

 

Recently, Kravitz has been confirmed as one of the artists taking part in the Live Earth concert series on July 7, 2007.   See Lenny Kravitz LIVE!  Purchase your Lenny Kravitz tickets today!