Victor Willis, Village People co-founder and lead singer of 'Y.M.C.A.', dies at 74 after brief illness
Victor Willis, co-founder and lead singer of the disco group Village People, died on June 30, 2026, one day before his 75th birthday, following a short but aggressive illness. His voice powered hits like 'Y.M.C.A.', 'Macho Man', and 'In the Navy', and his police-officer costume made him a pop icon.
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:
His wife requested privacy. Willis would have turned 75 on July 1.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.
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 position
- Y.M.C.A. (1978)
- 2 position
- In the Navy (1979)
- 3 position
- Cruisin' album (1978)
- 3 position
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.'
- Co-founds Village People with Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo
- Y.M.C.A. peaks at No. 2 on Hot 100
- In the Navy peaks at No. 3; Willis leaves the band
- Arrested on drug-related charges
- Wins copyright case, reclaims master recordings
- Rejoins Village People
- Trump begins using Y.M.C.A. at rallies
- Performs at Trump's inauguration
- Performs at men's World Cup draw event
- Dies at age 74
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:
The song remains a fixture at weddings, parties, and sporting events.We will think of Victor every time 'Y.M.C.A.' is played, like today, and all throughout this July Fourth Birthday week.
