Lenny Kravitz at 50

With the love song "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over," Lenny Kravitz achieved his breakthrough in 1991. His debut album "Let Love Rule," a nod to the rock greats of the 70s, had already been on the market for two years. Critics mocked it for cribbing retro style, but the mix of rock, soul, rhythm and blues and pyschedelia hit the spot for many listeners.

Kravitz became a brand name on the music scene, and his debut also included the song "Mr Cab Driver," long since a mainstay on a host of "Best of" albums.

In May, the now iconic rocker celebrated his 50th. He's now set to rack up another accolade in a long list of music honors as he's named a Pioneer of Rock at German broadcaster SWR3's New Pop Festival. The festival has served as a European launch pad for US chart-toppers such as Alanis Morissette, the Fugees and Bruno Mars. Acts like Amy Winehouse and Hurts have also delivered early performances there.

From a commercial extra to "Romeo Blue"

Lenny Kravitz was born on May 26, 1964 in Brooklyn. His father, Sy, was a TV producer with Ukrainian roots, and his mother, Roxie Roker, was an African-American actress - both possible sources for Kravitz' own creative leanings. They regularly took him along to concerts by the likes of Duke Ellington, Jackson Brown and the Jackson Five, whom he later described as his first role models. Then he got into the rock heroes of the late 60s and 70s: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jimmy Hendrix and The Who. They became influences that are undeniable in his smash hit, "Fly Away."

Getting an early start in show biz, the young Lenny appeared in a soda commercial in which he pulled a wagon through orange groves. When he was 12, his family moved to Los Angeles, where he taught himself multiple instruments and joined the California Boys Choir. He was certain music was his calling. Using the pseudonym Romeo Blue, he got his first gigs and sent demos out to various labels. His father was less than pleased that Kravitz didn't opt for college after finishing high school, but helped him out with his musical ambitions nonetheless.

A blessing and a curse

In 1989, the label Virgin Records took interest in Kravitz - a partnership that paved the way to stardom. A year later, he wrote and produced the song "Justify My Love" with Madonna. The track hit Number One on the US Billboard charts, but it cost Kravitz his marriage. Rumors swirled that he had an affair with Madonna, which upset his wife, Lisa Bonet. Kravitz worked through the separation from his long-time partner in the song "My Mama Said (Always on the Run)," an enormous commercial success.

In 1993 came the album that brought him numerous Grammy nominations and the MTV Award for Best Video: "Are You Gonna Go My Way." No stranger to the Grammys, Kravitz took home various trophies for work including his cover version of "American Woman" in 2000.

Politically active

Lenny Kravitz also made headlines for his political engagement. In 2004, he emerged as a prominent opponent of the US war effort in Iraq. Together with the Iraqi singer Kadim al Sahir, he recorded the song "We Want Peace," which was made available for free online. Four years later, he sang Barack Obama's election campaign song, "Change."

Today, Lenny Kravitz lives in Paris and has branched out to the film world, appearing in "The Hunger Games" blockbuster. Musically, he was last in the spotlight in 2010, playing instruments on the posthumous Michael Jackson release "Michael," on which he also performed a duet with Jackson titled "(I Can't Make It) Another Day."