Victor Willis, Village People co-founder and lead singer of 'Y.M.C.A.', dies at 74 after brief illness

Death announcement

Victor Willis was pronounced dead on Tuesday, June 30, by his wife Karen Willis and the band. The group posted on its official Facebook page:

“We are profoundly sad to announce the death of Victor Willis, lead singer of Village People. Victor died on Monday, June 30, 2026 after a short but aggressive illness.”

His wife requested privacy. Willis would have turned 75 on July 1.

Chart-topping success

Born in Texas in 1951, Willis performed on Broadway in "The Wiz" before French producer Jacques Morali recruited him in 1977. Together with Morali and business partner Henri Belolo, Willis co-founded the six-member Village People, an act built around macho archetypes: a cop, construction worker, biker, cowboy, Native American chief, and sailor. Willis dressed as the mustachioed police officer. The group's self-titled debut arrived in 1977, but 1978 brought the breakthrough. "Macho Man" peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album "Cruisin'" yielded "Y.M.C.A.," which reached No. 2, while the LP itself hit No. 3 on the Billboard 200. In 1979, "In the Navy" climbed to No. 3.

Macho Man (1978)25

Y.M.C.A. (1978)2

In the Navy (1979)3

Cruisin' album (1978)3

Macho Man (1978)

25 position

Y.M.C.A. (1978)

2 position

In the Navy (1979)

3 position

Cruisin' album (1978)

3 position

Data from the article text

Personal struggles and return

Willis left Village People around 1979–1980 and battled drug problems for years. He was arrested twice in 2006, first on drug-related charges and later for threatening a girlfriend with a knife. In 2012, he won a landmark copyright case and reclaimed the group's master recordings. He rejoined Village People in 2017 and resumed touring. From 1978 to 1982, he was married to actress Phylicia Rashad, a union at odds with the group's gay image.

Trump relationship and anthem controversy

President Donald Trump began using "Y.M.C.A." at his rallies in 2020. Willis initially pushed back and considered legal action, but he later changed his position. The band performed at Trump's inauguration in January 2025 and at the men's World Cup draw event in December 2025. Willis denied that "Y.M.C.A." is a gay anthem, telling Rolling Stone in 2025:

“I don't mind if gay people want to claim it as a gay anthem for them. My thing is that when anybody wants to make a story on it, and they say 'gay anthem' because of the illicitness of the lyrics, that's incorrect, because there's nothing in my lyrics that says anything about gayness or gay acts at the 'Y.M.C.A.' If you're going to say anything, just say 'anthem.'”

Legacy

Willis co-wrote some of disco's most enduring songs. "Y.M.C.A." was added to the National Recording Registry in 2020 and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021. Trump posted a tribute on Truth Social, calling Willis "a great and happy guy" and adding:

“We will think of Victor every time 'Y.M.C.A.' is played, like today, and all throughout this July Fourth Birthday week.”

The song remains a fixture at weddings, parties, and sporting events.