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Kevin Aviance
Kevin Aviance
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Key Information

Kevin Aviance (born Eric Snead on June 22, 1968) is an American drag queen, club/dance musician, fashion designer, and nightclub personality.[1][2] He is a personality in New York City's gay scene and has performed throughout North America, Europe and Asia.[3][4] He is a member of the House of Aviance, one of the most notable vogue-ball houses in the U.S.[5] He is known for his trademark phrase, "Work. Fierce. Over. Aviance!" He won the 1998 and 1999 Glammy Awards, the award for nightlife personalities in New York City.[6] He has worked with several artists, including Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston.[7] In December 2016, Billboard Magazine ranked him as the 93rd most successful dance artist of all time.[8]

Career

[edit]

Aviance was raised in Richmond, Virginia, in a close-knit family of eight siblings.[6] His father provided for them as a landscape contractor.[9] From an early age, Aviance dedicated himself to the study of music and theatre, his first experience in drag was in the seventh grade.[5] His early influences were "punk, Boy George, Devo, and Grace Jones".[9] He moved to Washington D.C. where he worked as a hairdresser and did drag performances.[5] He developed a bad crack habit but with help of the House of Aviance he was able to overcome it, after his initiation in the house he took the name Kevin Aviance.[5] He later moved to New York City and made a name for himself as a dancer/performer at Sound Factory, a club mainly for queer Latinos and Blacks.[5] Major DJs and club promoters saw him performing and started hiring him, he became one of a handful of drag performers in NYC able to support themselves solely on performances.[5] His career as a performance artist and club personality began in Washington, DC, continued in Miami, and eventually landed him in New York City. The House of Aviance was founded in 1989 (in Washington, DC) by Mother Juan Aviance.[10] Kevin is regarded as Mother Juan and the House's "oldest daughter".[10] In 1993, Aviance, who was living in Florida at the time, was asked to move to New York City by Mother Juan. He accepted his House Mother's request and shortly after landed a cameo role in Madonna's 1994 Secret video.[10] In July 1999, Aviance performed as part of Billboard's sixth annual Dance Music Summit.[11]

Aviance has appeared in several films, including Flawless starring Robert De Niro and the independent film Punks. Besides his feature-film work he has made guest appearances on such shows as The Tyra Banks Show, and America's Next Top Model, also hosted by Tyra Banks, and worked with artists like Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston.[7] In 2015, Canadian filmmaker Raymond Helkio produced the documentary "WERK. FIERCE. OVAH. Aviance!" which premiered at the 2018 NYC East Village Queer Film Festival.


His songs Din Da Da, Rhythm Is My Bitch, Alive, Give It Up and Strut, have all reached Number 1 of the Billboard dance chart. The only one of his singles not to peak at Number 1 to date is Dance for Love. Aviance's most successful dance radio hit to date is Give It Up released in 2004. His second album, Entity is a more consistent effort than his first.

Hate crime incident

[edit]

On June 10, 2006, while exiting the Phoenix, a popular gay bar located in the East Village section of Manhattan, Aviance was robbed and beaten by a group of men who yelled anti-gay slurs at him. Four suspects were arrested under New York's hate-crime law, but reports say up to seven men were involved in the attack.[12] Aviance was not dressed in his gender-bending performance clothes but as a boy. He had to have his jaw wired for a month.[13] He also suffered a fractured knee and neck injuries as well as blows to the face.[14] Despite suffering a broken jaw, he insisted on appearing in the city's gay pride parade later that month.[15]

The four suspects, who ranged between 17 and 21 years old, were charged with gang assault as a hate crime. On March 21, 2007, they pleaded guilty and were sentenced to between six and fifteen years in prison. Without the plea agreement, they had faced up to 25 years.[16]

Recent times

[edit]
Aviance lip-syncing at the Q in 2021

Recently, Aviance appeared on the song This is New York City (Bitch!) by the transgender rap group La'Mady from the album Jonny McGovern Presents: This is NYC, Bitch! The East Village Mixtape.[17] In 2007, Aviance's song Strut was featured as the theme song for the documentary series Indie Sex. In April 2008, Aviance staged a comeback to the club scene and entertainment world, and was reunited on stage with Junior Vasquez, who previously worked together but had become estranged over a professional dispute. At Cielo, a club in New York known for its lighted walls, the tandem performance marked the return to the spotlight for Aviance, performing two of his new hit singles. He most recently recorded a cover of Britney Spears's Gimme More, produced by Jonny McGovern and Adam Joseph on The East Village Mixtape 2: The Legends Ball. In 2022, Aviance's hit song "Cunty" was sampled for 15 seconds on Beyoncé's seventh studio album Renaissance for the track "Pure/Honey".

Albums

[edit]
  • Box of Chocolates (Wave Music) 1999[6]
  • Entity (Centaur) 2004[18]
  • HIPPOPOTAMUS! (Chervana Music) 2025 [19]

Singles

[edit]
  • Cunty (The Feeling) (1996) [Strictly Rhythm]
  • Hold On Me [with Tom Stephan & The S-Man]
  • Din Da Da (1997)[20]
  • Join In The Chant (1998)[21]
  • Rhythm Is My Bitch (1999)[9]
  • Dance For Love (2000)[21]
  • Alive (2002)[22]
  • Give It Up (2004)[18]
  • Strut (2007)[23]
  • Gimme More (Aviance) (2008) [Gay/Nerd Music]
  • Avi'ously Aviance (2014) featuring EJ Aviance, Kevin Aviance, Perry Aviance and Mother Juan Aviance; produced by David Ohana Aviance. Released on Aviance Records[24]

Filmography

[edit]
  • Punks, UrbanWorld (2000) as "Miss Smokie" a club owner, Patrick-Ian Polk, director.[25]
  • Freaks, Glam Gods and Rockstars, RyanIsland Films (2001), John T. Ryan director.[26]
  • "Naked Fame", Regent Here! Films (2005), Christopher Long, director.[27]
  • "WERK. FIERCE. OVAH. Aviance!", The Reading Salon, Raymond Helkio, director.[28]
  • "Wig"', HBO Films (2019), Chris Moukarbel, director[29]
  • "How Do I Look"', Art From The Heart Films (2008), Wolfgang Busch, director[30]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

Bibliography

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Kevin Aviance (born Eric Snead; June 22, 1968) is an American drag performer, club/dance musician, fashion designer, and nightclub personality based in . Born and raised in , Aviance rose to prominence in the city's underground and club scenes during the 1980s and 1990s, founding the influential , a performance house emphasizing voguing and high-energy drag. His music career gained traction with house and dance singles such as "Din Da Da" (1997), "Give It Up" (2000), and "Alive" (2002), the latter reaching number one on the chart. Aviance received Glammy Awards for nightlife personality in 1998 and 1999, recognizing his contributions to New York City's gay club culture. In recent years, a sample of his work on Beyoncé's 2022 album —specifically on the track "Pure/Honey"—revived interest in his catalog, leading to new performances and a 2025 interview highlighting his enduring legacy. Despite a high-profile in 2006 that temporarily sidelined him, Aviance has maintained a career spanning over four decades, characterized by theatrical performances, international tours, and collaborations in music and fashion.

Early Life

Childhood and Upbringing

Kevin Aviance, born Eric Snead on June 22, 1968, in Richmond, Virginia, grew up as the sixth of eight children in a close-knit family.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 13 </grok:render> <grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 23 </grok:render> His father worked as an electrician, supporting the household.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 23 </grok:render> The family environment encouraged creative expression, with Aviance recalling childhood performances in the basement of their home, where he practiced dance routines against a wall to entertain siblings and visitors.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 8 </grok:render> From an early age, Aviance demonstrated a strong affinity for , , and theatricality, dedicating time to studying these as a means of drawing attention and developing his performative skills.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 1 </grok:render> <grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 3 </grok:render> His relatives provided consistent support for these interests, fostering an upbringing that aligned with his emerging identity as a performer despite the conservative setting of mid-20th-century Richmond.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 23 </grok:render> This foundational period in laid the groundwork for his later transition to professional , though he remained in the area until his late teens before relocating northward.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 16 </grok:render>

Entry into Drag and Nightlife

Aviance, born Eric Snead in Richmond, Virginia, displayed an early affinity for performance by lip-syncing Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" at an elementary school talent show around 1979, at approximately age 10, while dressed in his mother's makeup and clothing. Following high school, he relocated to Washington, D.C., where his professional entry into drag and nightlife commenced as a performance artist and club personality, drawing influences from Grace Jones, Boy George, and David Bowie. There, he affiliated with the , a of drag performers, DJs, and artists founded by Juan Aviance, which facilitated his initial roles as a club promoter before transitioning to onstage performances. Aviance's career trajectory included a stint in before he moved to in 1989, joining the New York chapter of the under and quickly establishing himself in the underground club scene. In New York, he performed at venues such as Sound Factory, mentored by DJ Junior Vasquez, who featured him during voguing events and parties that defined the era's ballroom and club culture.

Career

Rise in New York Club Scene (1980s–1990s)

Kevin Aviance, having established himself in Washington, D.C.'s ballroom scene as a member of the House of Aviance during the 1980s, relocated to Miami in 1991 to further develop his performance skills before moving to New York City in 1993. In New York, he continued affiliation with the House of Aviance, a collective originating from D.C. but influential in the city's nightlife, and quickly integrated into the underground club culture amid the post-disco era's shift toward house music and voguing. His background in dance and theater, honed from childhood influences like Grace Jones and David Bowie, positioned him for prominence in venues catering to queer audiences of color. Aviance gained traction as a dancer and drag performer at key clubs, including Sound Factory, where he captivated crowds with high-energy routines tailored to queer Latino and Black patrons, and at the , where he secured weekly main-stage slots under DJ starting around 1993. These performances often featured rapid outfit changes—up to 12 per set—and unscripted voguing and lip-syncs extending into early morning hours, drawing from the era's traditions while adapting to sets by promoters like Vasquez and . By the mid-1990s, he expanded to clubs like and Roxy, solidifying his role in the "big room" house scene, which emphasized immersive, all-night events blending with electronic beats. His ascent reflected the diversification of New York's gay nightlife from 1980s exclusivity to 1990s inclusivity for performers outside mainstream circuits, though challenges like self-funding costumes and navigating promoter hierarchies persisted. Aviance's distinctive style—marked by fierce, exaggerated femininity and phrases like "Work. Fierce. Over. Aviance!"—earned him status as a pivotal figure in the underground, influencing subsequent drag and club aesthetics before transitioning to recorded music. This period laid the foundation for his broader recognition, with appearances at events like Wigstock and collaborations foreshadowing hits such as "Cunty" in 1996.

Musical and Performance Breakthrough (2000s)

In 2000, Aviance released the single "Dance for Love" on vinyl through Wave Music, extending his dance music output from the late 1990s. This track featured house influences typical of his club-oriented style. Aviance's second studio album, , was released on September 16, 2003, comprising 15 tracks including "Alive," "You've Got the Groove," "Give It Up," and "Freak It (Live Out Loud)." The album marked a progression in production quality and consistency compared to his debut, incorporating elements in "Power" and electro styles in select cuts. "Give It Up," issued around 2003–2004, emerged as his most successful dance radio hit to date, achieving notable club play and chart positioning in underground circuits. During this period, Aviance maintained prominence through live performances in New York City's nightlife venues, including a cabaret appearance highlighted for its adaptation of his hits like "Din Da Da" to a stage format. These shows blended drag performance with musical sets, solidifying his role as a multifaceted entertainer in the gay club scene, though no major international tours were documented. The releases and gigs contributed to his growing recognition beyond local ballroom events into broader audiences.

Fashion Design and House of Aviance Involvement

Kevin Aviance is recognized as a fashion designer, with his work influencing the elaborate costumes and stylistic presentations integral to his drag performances and nightclub appearances. His designs emphasize bold, handcrafted elements, such as spike-adorned bolero jackets, tailored for high-impact visual effect in the nightlife scene. Aviance's fashion endeavors intersect with his longstanding role in the House of Aviance, a pioneering voguing house founded in August 1989 by Mother Juan Aviance in Washington, D.C. The house established its reputation through nightly vogue and runway dance battles, blending competitive dance with fashion-forward runway walks that mimicked high-fashion catwalks. As one of the house's eldest members, referred to as its "oldest daughter," Aviance has contributed significantly to its prominence in the community, where participants compete in categories emphasizing vogueing precision and couture-inspired attire. The House of Aviance's activities, including performances, have helped sustain voguing's tradition of theatrical expression since the late 1980s.

Recent Projects and Collaborations (2010s–Present)

Following his recovery from the 2006 assault, Kevin Aviance continued performing and releasing sporadically in the , with a notable on the Raw, co-produced with M. Arana and released on October 5, 2015, comprising 13 tracks that paid homage to underground nightlife aesthetics. That same year, he received the Living Legend Award at the GLAM Awards, recognizing his enduring influence in drag and club culture. These efforts aligned with his ongoing role in the , though specific projects from this period remain undocumented in primary sources. Into the 2020s, Aviance resumed higher-profile musical output, including collaborations with DJ Honey Dijon on "Honey (C*NTY)" in 2024 and the extended mix "Cunty" released February 6, 2025, both emphasizing house and dance genres. He also featured in LP Giobbi's Femme House Radio 114 mix on July 21, 2023. Performances during this decade included a Donna Summer tribute on March 24, 2018; an appearance at the Project GLOW Festival's Secret Garden in Washington, D.C., on April 29, 2023; and a set at the Horst Arts & Music Festival in Vilvoorde, Belgium, in 2023. Aviance's most recent major project is the album HIPPOPOTAMUS!, released October 10, 2025, via Chervana Music, featuring 15 tracks including "HIPPOPALYPTIC" and collaborations such as with ; produced by Mr. Gomi, it draws from diverse dance styles and builds on his legacy. Supporting releases include the EPs PULLED and BLOODLINE in 2025. Live promotions for the album encompassed a of "Pulled" and "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" at Sasha Velour's on May 31, 2025, and a dedicated HIPPOPOTAMUS LIVE! event at (le) poisson rouge in New York on June 26, 2025. These endeavors reflect sustained activity in and , with no verified recent fashion-specific collaborations beyond affiliations.

Notable Incidents

2006 Assault

On June 10, 2006, Kevin Aviance was assaulted by a group of six or seven young men in Manhattan's East Village while walking home from the Phoenix on East 13th Street. The attack occurred around 1:30 a.m. on East 14th Street near First Avenue, where the perpetrators shouted anti-gay slurs, threw garbage bags and a paint can at him, and then punched and kicked him in the face and body. Aviance, who was not in drag attire at the time, sustained a broken , bruised , and other injuries; passersby did not intervene as the assault unfolded. Three suspects—Akino George, Jarell Sears, and an unnamed 16-year-old—were arrested shortly after the incident and charged with first-degree assault as a . A fourth man was arrested the following day, bringing the total arraigned to four, all facing the same charges without entering pleas at the time. Aviance was treated at Beth Israel Medical Center and released within days, expressing determination to continue his performances despite the trauma. In March 2007, the four perpetrators pleaded guilty to and charges in a New York court, marking a legal resolution to the case. The incident drew attention to anti-LGBTQ violence in urban nightlife areas, with advocacy groups like the highlighting it as an example of targeted bias-motivated attacks.

Health and Recovery Events

In May 2025, Kevin Aviance was hospitalized in after experiencing severe breathing difficulties over the weekend. He was rushed to the emergency room and diagnosed with septic poisoning and , conditions that medical staff described as life-threatening. Doctors informed his team that Aviance was "incredibly lucky to be alive," attributing his survival to prompt intervention. Aviance remained under close monitoring in the hospital, receiving as part of his treatment. By early June 2025, he had been discharged from the and was continuing his recovery, with updates from his team confirming steady progress. Public statements emphasized the severity of the episode, noting that the dual diagnoses of and posed significant risks, including potential organ failure if untreated. No underlying causes beyond the acute infections were publicly detailed, though the rapid onset highlighted vulnerabilities associated with advanced age and prior physical traumas in Aviance's history. By mid-June 2025, Aviance shared optimistic updates on his condition, describing a "beautiful return to life" amid ongoing rehabilitation efforts. His team expressed gratitude for supporter outreach, which aided his during , though full details on long-term effects or preventive measures were not disclosed. This event marked a notable health scare for the performer, underscoring resilience in the face of medical adversity following decades in high-energy environments.

Works

Discography

Kevin Aviance's discography primarily consists of dance and releases, with a focus on singles and EPs from the onward, alongside sporadic full-length albums. His early work emerged from the New York club scene, featuring high-energy tracks produced for labels like . Later releases shifted toward independent and digital platforms, incorporating collaborations and voguing influences.

Studio Albums

TitleRelease DateLabel
Box of ChocolatesOctober 12, 1999King Street Sounds
2007
2010Independent
Raw2015Independent
HIPPOPOTAMUS!2025Independent
BEAUTIFULMay 16, 2025Chervana Music

Singles and EPs

  • "Cunty (The Feeling)" (1996, ) – Club mix featured voguing elements and became a staple in culture.
  • "Din Da Da" (1997) – Original mixes gained traction in underground dance charts.
  • "Join In The Chant" (1998) – Remixed cover emphasizing industrial beats.
  • "Rhythm Is My Bitch" (1999) – Peaked in club rankings, highlighting Aviance's performative style.
  • "Give It Up" (2007, single) – with upbeat production.
  • "BODY" (August 31, 2023, VOSS Music) – track focusing on body-positive themes in club settings.
  • "CUNTY" (2024, collaboration with ) – Reinterpretation of earlier work for modern dance floors.
  • "Honey (C*NTY)" (2024) – Single blending vintage and contemporary sounds.
Compilations and features include appearances on various club mixes, but Aviance's core output remains centered on original singles rather than extensive album catalogs. Recent digital releases reflect a return to independent production post-2010s.

Filmography

Kevin Aviance has made several appearances in independent films and documentaries, often portraying club performers or appearing as himself in contexts related to drag and nightlife culture. His roles typically draw from his background as a performer in New York's underground scene.
YearTitleRoleNotes
1999FlawlessSingerAppeared as a club singer in the crime comedy-drama directed by , starring .
2000PunksMiss SmokiePortrayed a club owner in the comedy-drama directed by Patrik-Ian Polk, focusing on Black experiences in .
2021Shoplifters of the WorldAmazing GracePlayed a supporting role in the comedy-drama directed by Stephen Kijak, set during the 1980s punk scene amid ' breakup announcement.
2019WigSelfFeatured in the documentary directed by , exploring the revival of the drag festival and New York drag history.
2023Renaissance: A Film by BeyoncéSelfAppeared in the concert film documenting Beyoncé's , highlighting performance elements.
Aviance has also appeared in television documentaries and series, including How Do I Look (2004–2010), where he contributed to episodes on and culture, and Hey Qween (2019–present), a drag competition series. These credits reflect his influence in drag and club media rather than mainstream narrative roles.

Legacy and Reception

Achievements and Awards

Kevin Aviance achieved commercial success as a recording artist, with "Din Da Da" reaching number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in 1998, while subsequent singles "Give It Up" (peaking at number two in 2000) and "Alive" (number three in 2004) also charted highly in the genre. In recognition of his influence, Billboard named him one of the top 100 most influential dance music artists of all time. Aviance received the Living Legend award at the 2015 GLAM Awards, honoring his longstanding contributions to New York nightlife and performance. In 2022, he became the inaugural inductee into The Advocate's Champions for Change Hall of Fame during their People of the Year Luncheon. He has also earned lifetime achievement awards from multiple organizations for his pioneering role in queer , , and culture. In 2023, Out magazine included Aviance in its Out100 list, spotlighting him as a disruptor and innovator in LGBTQ+ arts and storytelling.

Cultural Impact and Criticisms

Kevin Aviance's contributions to New York City's ballroom and nightlife scenes have established him as a foundational figure in queer performance art, particularly through his integration of voguing, tribal house music, and avant-garde fashion during the 1990s club era. His performances at venues like Sound Factory and Roxy emphasized high-energy, boundary-pushing drag that celebrated Black queer identity, influencing subsequent generations of performers in the competitive house ball system he helped popularize via the House of Aviance. The 1997 single "Din Da Da" exemplified his impact on , achieving cult status in underground circuits and later gaining broader exposure when sampled by on the track "Pure/Honey" from her 2022 album , which introduced vernacular and voguing references to mainstream pop audiences. This sampling not only revived Aviance's career—leading to increased bookings and a 2025 album release titled —but also highlighted the historical debt owed by contemporary artists to 1990s queer nightlife pioneers. Aviance's advocacy extends to LGBTQ+ visibility, where he has used his platform to address community resilience amid external pressures, including hate crimes and political rhetoric targeting drag performers; in a 2023 interview, he warned that such opposition could escalate conflicts beyond historical events like Stonewall. Criticisms of Aviance's work are sparse in public discourse, with no major professional controversies documented beyond broader debates over drag's commercialization in media like and Pose, which he has acknowledged as amplifying but sometimes diluting ballroom's origins—though he views Pose positively for honoring the culture's roots. His unapologetic style, blending bald-headed fierceness with couture, has occasionally drawn niche pushback within spaces for defying conventional , yet this has largely reinforced his icon status rather than detracting from it.

References

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