The Village People's Victor Willis dies aged 74
Victor Willis - one of the founding members of The Village People, most famous for their track YMCA - passed away after a “short but aggressive illness”.
The Village People frontman Victor Willis has died at 74.
The singer - one of the founding members of the band, most famous for their track YMCA - passed away after a “short but aggressive illness”.
His death was announced on Facebook as his family posted a brief statement, which read: “We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People.
“Victor passed on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy is requested.”
No further details about his health battle were released.
Following the announcement, Willis’ widow Karen Huff-Willis said in her own statement: “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 family request privacy at this time of great loss.”
Willis first showed off his vocal talents in a gospel choir at his father’s Baptist church.
He went on to pursue acting, and performed on Broadway in William F. Brown’s The Wiz, before going on to team up with French producer Jacques Morali.
The pair founded The Village People - named after Manhattan’s Greenwich village - in 1977, and they had a worldwide smash hit with YMCA the following year.
The song remains a favourite at parties and weddings, but has most recently been associated with US President Donald Trump - who frequently uses it at his Make America Great Again rallies and Mar-a-Lago fundraisers.
As the song plays and his supporters sing along, Trump dances to The Village People - although stops short at performing the famous arm movements.
He also called the track a “gay anthem” at a campaign rally as he said: “They have that song. The gay national anthem if you remember.
“That's why I did so well with the gay vote I think because of that song. I did great with the gay vote. Better than any Republican's ever done by far.”
However, Willis disagreed with Trump’s assessment, and said in a statement: “Come January 2025, my wife will start suing each and every news organisation that falsely refers to YMCA, either in their headlines or alluded to in the base of the story, that YMCA is somehow a gay anthem because such notion is based solely on the song’s lyrics alluding to elicit activity for which it does not.”
Following the success of YMCA, The Village People went on to release further smash hits such as Go West and Macho Man.
Willis left the band in 1980 before returning to become the only remaining original member of the band on their numerous tours.
