Victor Willis, Village People Co-Founder and Lead Singer, Dies at 74

Victor Willis, the founding lead singer and co-songwriter of the disco group Village People, has died at the age of 74 after a short but aggressive illness, the band announced Wednesday. He died on Tuesday, June 30. His family has requested privacy.

Born in Dallas in 1951 and raised in San Francisco, Willis began singing gospel music in church before performing in musical theater, including Hair, Two Gentlemen of Verona, and The Wiz. He co-founded Village People in 1977 with French producers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo.

Willis co-wrote many of the group's biggest hits, including "Y.M.C.A.," "Macho Man," "In the Navy," and "Go West." He left the group in 1979, briefly returned in the early 1980s, and rejoined again in 2017 after winning a legal battle that gave him a 50% U.S. ownership stake in 13 Village People songs.

After struggling with drug addiction in the 1980s and 1990s, Willis entered treatment in 2006 and rebuilt his career. Village People resumed touring and released a Christmas album in 2019.

In recent years, "Y.M.C.A." gained renewed attention after being used at Donald Trump's political events. Trump offered condolences following Willis' death, calling the song a lasting hit and praising the singer's legacy.

Willis was previously married to actress Phylicia Rashad. He is survived by his wife, attorney and entertainment executive Karen Huff-Willis. He would have turned 75 on July 1.