Drag Race Stars Join Forces To Honour The Vivienne In New Song
Image: Image: World Of Wonder
Six 17c起草社区IA+ musicians have collaborated to honour the late drag icon, The Vivienne, with a new song benefiting 17c起草社区IA+ UK helpline, Switchboard.
James Lee Williams, professionally known as The Vivienne, died earlier this year at the age of 32 after a cardiac arrest cause by ketamine.
They had spoken publicly about their struggles with addiction, and had recently relapsed after several years of sobriety.
The song, Your Light Will Shine, was written by manager and close friend Simon Jones, and aims to 鈥渉onour their legacy and share a message of unity, love and understanding鈥�.
Musicians Bentley Robles,听Eden Hunter,听Janethan and The Vivienne’s Drag Race sisters, Bimini and Tia Kofi, are all uniting for the single, set to be released on September 17.
鈥淚 wanted to do something that would not only honour The Vivienne鈥檚 lasting legacy but also help raise vital funds for a charity that does so much for our community,” Jones said in a statement.
鈥淰iv was a trailblazer and a one off, and in this song we celebrate their life but also remind everyone that right now we need to be united as a community and fight for our love more than ever. I鈥檓 so grateful to the amazing music artists who have given their time and talent to create this beautiful pop song.鈥�
The Vivienne’s legacy maintained by friends and family
Earlier this year, a documentary honouring the life of The Vivienne, entitled Dear Viv, was released, directed by Pete Williams and produced by World of Wonder with the blessing of The Vivienne鈥檚 family.
The documentary traced Williams鈥� rise from their beginnings in North Wales and Liverpool, to winning the first season of Drag Race UK in 2019, and covers their appearances on All Stars 7,听Dancing on Ice, and her stage work in聽The Wizard of Oz.
Drag Race UK sisters Baga Chipz, Michael Marouli, Danny Beard, Tia Kofi, and Cheryl Hole all contributed interviews, as well as family members Cassie, Lee, and Chanel Williams, and Drag Race聽alum Blu Hydrangea, Trinity the Tuck, Mon茅t X Change, Raja, and others.
James’ sister, Chanel, has also launched a drug and alcohol support group named The House Of Vivienne, which held their first meeting last month.
鈥淛ames would want you to know you matter, your life matters and there is help,” she said in a statement. “There is always hope.鈥�
鈥淛ames brought sparkle and joy wherever they went, but they also knew the darkness of addiction. That鈥檚 why House of The Vivienne聽isn鈥檛 just about telling people to stop 鈥� it鈥檚 about meeting them where they are, without judgement, and showing them there鈥檚 a way forward.鈥�
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