Lucian Piane, the producer and songwriter who shaped the sound of RuPaul’s Drag Race, has died at 46. The Glendale, California, resident was killed in a traffic collision on Monday.
Piane joined Drag Race with its debut season in 2009 and composed and produced music for the show’s theatrical challenges and finale performances through season 8, along with the All Stars spin-off. His RuPaul credits include“Sissy That Walk,”“Cover Girl,”“Glamazon”and“Peanut Butter,”tracks that fans have been dancing and lip-syncing to for over a decade. Before his Drag Race run, he earned a Grammy nomination for the 2007 Hairspray soundtrack and worked on projects like Team America: World Police.
Tributes poured in Tuesday from the Drag Race family. World of Wonder wrote that Piane“left behind a legacy of truly beautiful music,”while Michelle Visage called him a beautiful soul and a huge talent. Piane had also been candid about his personal journey, sharing in August that he’d been sober for over a year.
Which Lucian Piane track holds the most meaning for you? Drop your favorite Drag Race performance in the comments and let’s celebrate his music together.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.