Victor Willis, the co-founder and lead singer of the famous disco group Village People, has died at the age of 74. His death was announced by his wife and the band on their Facebook pages. Karen-Huff Willis shared that Victor died on June 30, 2026, due to a swift and severe illness.
The musician, originally from Texas, helped create some of the group’s most popular hits such as “Y.M.C.A.,” “In the Navy,” and “Macho Man.” These songs dominated dance floors worldwide in the late 1970s. Known for their vibrant costumes and dance routines, the Village People became a pop culture icon, especially within the disco era’s large gay audience. The group portrayed characters like builders, bikers, cowboys, and soldiers.
Willis initially parted ways with the group in 1980 but returned in 2017. He had faced personal challenges, including a struggle with drug addiction, leading to a plea deal over cocaine possession in 2006. Willis admitted in a 2015 interview with the San Diego Union Tribune that he turned to drugs during a period of deep depression.
The song “Y.M.C.A.” became an anthem for the LGBTQ community, though it also gained popularity in right-wing political circles. Willis clarified his stance against the American right-wing movement’s adoption of the song, stating in a 2020 BBC interview, “I don’t endorse Trump, I’ve never endorsed Trump, nor has the Village People.” Despite this, the band performed “Y.M.C.A.” at a Trump rally in 2025, where Willis urged the audience to give Trump a chance while pledging to oppose any restrictions on LGBTQ rights.
In a legal battle in 2012, Willis gained partial ownership of the copyrights for numerous Village People songs, including their greatest hits. This legal victory allowed him to rejoin the group in 2017 as reported by BBC News.