Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre, style, race and class in his 20-year musical career, one which revels in the rich influences of ‘60s and ‘70s soul, rock and funk.
Kravitz’s multiple talents as a writer, producer and multi-instrumentalist have resonated through eight studio albums into a timeless catalog, establishing him as one of rock’s most respected songwriters. These accolades are not hyperbole. All of Kravitz’s albums have been certified gold or better, with three of them certified multi-platinum. He has scored multiple # 1 singles on the Billboard Top Singles chart, and has won four GRAMMY awards (setting a record for most wins in the “Best Male Rock Vocal Performance” category, from 1999 – 2002), while being nominated for several more. In fact, when it comes to awards, Kravitz has earned an unparalleled collection of them throughout his career across a variety of artistic institutions, including the American Music Awards (2002, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist), the MTV Video Music Awards (1993, Best Male Video), Radio Music Awards (2001, Artist of the Year), VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards (1998, Most Fashionable Male), and the Billboard Awards. Kravitz is also widely regarded as a creative vanguard, both in the innovative music videos that have spanned his career and in his early recognition of music’s role in our lives outside traditional avenues like albums and radio. Kravitz’s appeal has also been recognized by his peers; his collaborative efforts are as varied as his own influences, having worked with Madonna, Slash, Aerosmith, Jay-Z, N.E.R.D., Mick Jagger, P. Diddy and Alicia Keys.
The root of all his success, though, is the music. Kravitz’s sound has always carried the echoes of past eras – classic rock, old-school soul, gritty funk and confectionary ‘60s pop – yet it always boasts an urgency and craftsmanship reflective of modern times. Over the course of his two-decades-long career, perhaps the most remarkable of Kravitz’s achievements is how he’s managed to maintain the immeasurable consistency of being a quality singer, songwriter and performer.