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.

Later career

With 5 (1998), Kravitz embraced digital technology such as synthesizers and tape loops for the first time. 5 introduced Kravitz's music to an even wider audience, particularly in Europe, because "Fly Away" featured prominently in both car manufacturer and airline commercials. 5 would reach #28 on the Billboard 200 with "Fly Away" would reach #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999 and #1 on the modern and mainstream charts. He would win the first of his four consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1999. Other hits from the album included:

Related Topics:
1998 - Synthesizer - Tape loop - Europe - Car - Airline - Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance - Grammy Awards of 1999

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• "If You Can't Say No" reached the top 40 on the Billboard mainstream rock chart in 1999 - dance producer Brian Transeau would remix the track; and
• "I Belong To You" would reach #76 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #15 on the Billboard adult chart in 2000

His cover version of 70s rockers The Guess Who's hit "American Woman" won him a another Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance in the Grammy Awards of 2000 and helped The Guess Who find a new audience. The song originally came from the soundtrack of ' and was added to the 5 album as a bonus track in 1999. The song would reach #49 on the Billboard 100, #3 on the Billboard modern rock chart and #7 on the Billboard mainstream rock chart.

Related Topics:
Cover version - The Guess Who - Grammy Awards of 2000

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Lenny Kravitz would release a 15 track Greatest Hits compilation. It proved to be his most successful album, reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 and Canadian album charts and achieve triple platinum status. The single "Again" reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on a world adult composite chart (based on the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France and Australia) and US adult chart. The track would also earn him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 2001.

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Kravitz released his sixth album Lenny in October 2001. It reached #12 on the Billboard 200 and #9 on the Canadian charts. The first single from the album "Dig In" reached #31 on the Billboard 100 and went top ten in the world adult and US adult charts. It also reached #1 in Argentina, went top 5 in Portugal and top 10 in Italy. He won his fourth consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 2002. Subsequent singles included:

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• "Stillness of Heart" went top 10 in Italy, top 20 in the US and world adult charts and Argentina and top 40 in Canada and the UK;
• "Believe in Me" reached #1 in Portugal, went top 10 in the Netherlands, top 20 in Italy and Germany and reached the top 100 world sales and airplay charts; and
• "If I Could Fall In Love" reached the US adult top 40.

Jay-Z invited Lenny Kravitz to appear on the track "Guns and Roses" on his 2002 '. Kravitz would also join P. Diddy, Pharrell Williams and Loon on the track "Show Me Your Soul" from the Bad Boys 2 soundtrack. In 2004, he would appear on a track on N.E.R.D's album Fly or Die. Jay-Z would appear on the track "Storm" on Kravitz's 2004 Baptism album.

Related Topics:
Jay-Z - P. Diddy - Pharrell Williams - Loon - Bad Boys 2 - N.E.R.D's - Fly or Die

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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 will also be appearing on Unity, the official album of the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Related Topics:
2003 invasion of Iraq - MP3.com - 2004 Athens Olympics

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Also in 2003, Kravitz worked with singer Michael Jackson on a song titled "Another Day". Kravitz said of the experience, ?working with Michael Jackson was probably the best recording experience of my life. He was totally cool, absolutely professional and a beautiful,

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beautiful guy. And let?s not forget, Michael is a musical genius.?

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The song, ?Another Day,? which Kravitz co-wrote and produced with Jackson, was set to appear on

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Jackson?s long-awaited new album. But the album, set for release in late 2003, was cancelled.

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Kravitz's seventh album Baptism was released in May 2004. On his website, Kravitz says that he chose the title because "I've made my first record all over again. That's how it feels, as pure as the beginning." Baptism would debut at number 14 on the US album charts, in the top 50 of the Australian album charts and in the top 75 of the UK album charts. The first single, "Where Are We Running", has reached #69 on the Billboard Hot 100, top 25 on a composite European chart and top 20 on Internet charts, Argentina, Italy and the world and US top 20 as of the end of May 2004. However, "Lady" became the album's surprise hit, making the US Top 30 and propelling "Baptism" to gold status. From March 2005, Lenny toured all over the world with the tour Electric Church, which ended at the Brixton Academy, London in July 2005.

Related Topics:
Brixton Academy - London

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Kravitz's latest project is a charity single for Hurrican Katrina victims. The single titled "From The Bottom Of My Heart" is a song written and composed by Michael Jackson. Kravitz will be in London, along with other recording artists, next week to record the song. The single is anticipated to be released within the next two weeks.

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