Lenny Kravitz.

Born in Manhattan on May 26, 1964, Lenny Kravitz grew up in a home shaped by his parents’ diverse backgrounds: his mother Roxie Roker was an actress known for The Jeffersons, and his father Sy Kravitz was a television producer and a hard-core Green Beret veteran. He attended PS 6 in New York and later Beverly Hills High School, where he formed the teen rock group WAVE with friend Trace Devai and counted Slash among his classmates. His parents’ diverse heritage—Ashkenazi Jewish from his father’s side and Afro-Bahamian and African-American from his mother’s—influenced his approach to music.

Kravitz’s breakout came with his 1989 debut album Let Love Rule, which blended rock, soul, and funk. He won his first Grammy in 1999 for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for the single Fly Away, then won three more consecutively, setting a record in that category. His 2000 album Greatest Hits sold over 11 million copies. In film, he played Cinna in The Hunger Games 2012 and its sequel Catching Fire 2013, and appeared in Precious 2009 and The Butler 2013. He also launched a design firm, Kravitz Design Inc., and a spirits brand Nocheluna Sotol in 2022.

Kravitz was married to actress Lisa Bonet from 1987 to 1993, and their daughter Zoë Kravitz is an actress and singer. He was engaged to Brazilian model Adriana Lima from 2002 to 2003. His mother Roxie Roker died on December 2, 1995, the day after Zoë’s 7th birthday. Kravitz currently owns homes in Paris, Brazil, and the Bahamas. The godmother of his daughter is Marisa Tomei, and he is an honorary nephew of Diahann Carroll.

Lenny Kravitz won four consecutive Grammys and sold 40 million albums, establishing him as a top rock musician. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2024, with his daughter Zoë and Denzel Washington as speakers. In 2022, the CFDA gave him the Fashion Icon Award. His memoir Let Love Rule made The New York Times Best Sellers list. He continues to fuse 1960s and 70s rock, soul, and funk influences.