Legendary Rock Star Lenny Kravitz Turns 62 Today

On May 26, 1964, in New York City, rock icon Lenny Kravitz was born. His love for music was immediate; he's recorded as having decided to be a musician at just five years old, and his father was a successful jazz promoter.

"My parents were very supportive of the fact that I loved music early on, and they took me to a lot of shows," Kravitz once said, describing how his destiny for music was inscribed from such a young age (via Michigan Chronicle). By age 21, Kravitz had already released his first album under the stage name Romeo Blue.

It was through this experience that he met Karl Denson, an experienced saxophonist best known for working with the Rolling Stones. The pair became close friends, and Kravitz was invited to tour with Denson for five years.

This helped him catch the attention of Virgin Records, with whom he later signed in 1989 and released his debut album, Let Love Rule. The record went to No. 61 on the Billboard 200, receiving strong reviews from critics for its genre-bending instrumentals and modern funk sounds.

From there, Kravitz turned his attention to producing. He famously worked on the song "Justify My Love" for Madonna, which sparked rumors of romance between the two-as Kravitz and his long-time partner, Lisa Bonet, also split around this time. Months later, he would release Mama Said, his second album, which discussed this public split.

The album was carried by its lead single "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over", which shot to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and cemented Kravitz as a pioneering new voice in modern rock. Two years later, "Are You Gonna Go My Way" was another massive success that topped the Billboard rock charts.

Critical success followed throughout the '90s with Grammy Awards and MTV Music Awards in several categories, while high-profile collaborations with artists like Stevie Wonder, Slash, and Sean Lennon made Kravitz a global star.

Kravitz's biggest hit to date would come in 1998, with "Fly Away". The iconic rock track marked his first No. 1 in the United Kingdom, though it only reached No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Today, it remains his most well-known and memorable song, with its driving guitars and melodic vocals defining an entire generation of rock fans.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 7:21 AM.