News Americas, New York, NY, September 12, 2024: Legendary rocker Lenny Kravitz, 60, paid tribute to his mother of Caribbean heritage, Roxie Roker, last night as he celebrated his win for Best Rock at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
Kravitz, who won for his song “Human,” dedicated the award to the rocker, who passed away in 1995 after a battle with cancer.
“Wow. This is incredible. I am very grateful. Thirty-one years ago, my mom was with me at an awards show, she was at the VMAs, so I dedicate this to her,” Kravitz said in an interview before the show.
Roker, best known for her role as Helen Willis in The Jeffersonshad accompanied her son to the 1993 MTV VMAs. Her roots lay in the Bahamas, where Kravitz also currently has a home.
Kravitz, known for his deep bond with his mother, often reflects on their relationship. In a recent post on social media, he recalled that special moment in 1993. “Having my beautiful mother by my side at my first #VMAs 31 years ago is a moment I will always cherish.” , he wrote.
The rocker is currently gearing up for his Las Vegas residency in October and is fresh off the release of his latest album. Blue Electric Light. Speaking about his craft, Kravitz compared his process to painting, drawing inspiration from legends like Stevie Wonder and Prince.
The 2024 MTV VMAs aired live from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York on September 11. Kravitz also performed on stage alongside Quavo.
About Roxie Roker
Roxie Roker was born in Miami, Florida, to Bessie Roker (née Mitchell) from Georgia, who worked as a homemaker, and Albert Roker, a porter from Andros, Bahamas. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York.
Roker studied drama at Howard University under renowned drama teachers Anne Cooke Reid and Owen Dodson. Her classmates included novelist Toni Morrison and playwright Shauneille Perry, and she was part of the Howard Players, the university’s theater troupe. In 1949, Roker toured Norway with the group on a trip sponsored by the US State Department and supported by Eleanor Roosevelt.
Roker began her career with the Negro Ensemble Company and became a prominent stage actress, winning an Obie Award in 1974 and earning a Tony nomination for her role in Niger River. In the 1970s, she worked as a reporter for WNEW-TV in New York and hosted a public affairs program called Inside Bed-Stuy.
Roker broke barriers in her role as Helen Willis The Jeffersonsbecoming part of the first interracial couple portrayed as regulars on mainstream television. She also appeared in various television shows including Punky Brewster, A Different World, Murder, she wroteAND Fantasy Islandand had roles in roots and the movie Claudine. Additionally, she was a children’s advocate known for her community work in Los Angeles.
In 1962, Roker married television producer Sy Kravitz. Their interracial marriage paralleled her character The Jeffersons. The couple had one son, Lenny Kravitz, and divorced in 1985. Roker was also a second cousin, once removed, of weathercaster Al Roker.
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