Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz (born Leonard Albert Kravitz on May 26, 1964 in New York) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist whose retro-style amalgam of rock, pop, funk, and even techno is inspired by such music icons as Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. Half African-American and half Jewish, Kravitz is the son of Hollywood producer Sy Kravitz and Bahamian American actress Roxie Roker, best known as Helen Willis, a regular character on The Jeffersons.

Early Life

Kravitz was named after his uncle, Pfc. Leonard Kravitz, who was killed in action in Korea while suppressing a Chinese attack and saving most of his platoon; he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Supporters believe the Congressional Medal of Honor has been denied to Pfc. Kravitz because he was Jewish, citing similar circumstances in which others have been posthumously awarded the honor.

Related Topics:
Korea - Distinguished Service Cross - Congressional Medal of Honor - Jew

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His parents moved to California. Having taught himself bass, piano, guitar, and drums at an early age and developed his singing voice in the California Boys Choir and the Metropolitan Opera, he attended Beverly Hills High School and performed under the artist name, Romeo Blue. At that stage, he was heavily influenced by Prince. His parents were friends with jazz greats Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby Short, and Miles Davis so he grew up in a musical household although he would pursue a career in rock rather than jazz.

Related Topics:
California - Bass - Piano - Guitar - Drums - California Boys Choir - Metropolitan Opera - Beverly Hills High School - Prince - Duke Ellington - Sarah Vaughan - Count Basie - Ella Fitzgerald - Bobby Short - Miles Davis

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the late 1980s, Kravitz returned to New York to pursue a musical career. He ended sharing a house with Lisa Bonet who played Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show. The two would fall in love and marry on November 16, 1987, Lisa's 20th birthday. In New York, Kravitz would broaden his influences beyond Prince to classic rock and soul artists such as Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield and Bob Marley. He signed a contract with Virgin Records.

Related Topics:
Lisa Bonet - Denise Huxtable - The Cosby Show - November 16 - 1987 - Jimi Hendrix - The Beatles - Led Zeppelin - Stevie Wonder - Curtis Mayfield - Bob Marley - Virgin Records

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~