Victor Willis, the co-founder and original lead singer of the legendary disco group Village People, has died at the age of 74 following a brief but aggressive illness, bringing to a close the life of one of disco music's most recognizable voices.
The announcement was made by his wife in a post published Wednesday on Willis' official Facebook page, confirming that the singer passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
"It is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of my husband, VICTOR WILLIS. Victor passed away on Tuesday June 30, 2026 as a result of a short, but aggressive illness," the statement read.
Born in Texas, Willis co-founded Village People in 1977 after accepting an invitation from French producer Jacques Morali and his business partner, Henri Belolo. According to the group's official website, Morali had told Willis: "I had a dream that you sang lead vocals on an album I produced, and it went very, very big… I'll make you a star."
That prediction soon became reality as Village People emerged as one of the defining acts of the disco era, captivating audiences worldwide with their flamboyant costumes, energetic choreography and infectious dance anthems.
Willis co-wrote and performed some of the group's biggest global hits, including "Y.M.C.A.," "Macho Man," and "In the Navy," songs that dominated dance floors in the late 1970s and have remained enduring staples of popular culture for decades.
The group's lineup, which eventually expanded to six or seven performers, became famous for portraying exaggerated masculine characters—including construction workers, bikers, cowboys and soldiers—designed to appeal to disco's large gay audience.
An early recruitment advertisement for the group famously read: "Macho Types Wanted for World-Famous Disco Group — Must Dance and Have a Moustache."
Village People was widely believed to have drawn its name from New York City's Greenwich Village, then regarded as the heart of the city's gay community.
Willis became known for his signature "cop" and "admiral" stage personas before leaving the group in 1980. His later years included personal struggles with drug addiction, culminating in a 2006 plea deal over cocaine possession.
However, he returned to Village People in 2017 after winning a copyright lawsuit that restored part ownership of several of the band's biggest songs, allowing him to reclaim greater control over his musical legacy.
Trump Pays Tribute
United States President Donald Trump, who frequently used "Y.M.C.A." during campaign rallies and political events, paid tribute to Willis following news of his death.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump described the late singer as someone who embraced the renewed popularity of the song during his political campaigns.
"He was a great and happy guy who loved that I used his groups song, YMCA, at my Rallies. It became a 'monster' hit, again, 30 years after its original launch," Trump wrote.
He added: "We will think of Victor every time YMCA is played, like today, and all throughout this July Fourth Birthday week."
Trump's signature dance to the song became a familiar feature of his rallies, further cementing the disco classic's resurgence with a new generation of supporters.
A Song That Sparked Debate
Over the years, "Y.M.C.A." evolved beyond its disco roots to become one of the world's most recognizable songs. It was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress in 2020 and was also honored in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
While many have long regarded the song as an LGBTQ anthem, Willis consistently challenged that interpretation.
In 2024, he dismissed the characterization, saying it was a "false assumption based on the fact that my writing partner was gay, and some (not all) of Village People were gay, and that the first Village People album was totally about gay life".
Despite criticism over the song's association with Trump's political movement, Village People performed "Y.M.C.A." at a Trump rally in January 2025 ahead of his second inauguration.
At the time, Willis urged Americans to judge the president by his actions.
"Let's give President Trump a chance, regardless of what you may have thought about him in the past," he said.
He added: "Let's see what he's going to do moving forward and if he does things to restrict LGBTQ rights, Village People will be the first to speak out."
Willis leaves behind a musical legacy that transcended generations, with songs that continue to define the disco era and remain fixtures at sporting events, celebrations and political gatherings around the world.