Victor Willis, 74, Passes Away After Leading Village People

Victor Willis, lead singer of disco group Village People, has passed away at 74.

The band announced his death on its official Facebook account.

“VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village PEOPLE,” the statement read. “Victor passed on Monday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness.”

Born in Texas in 1951, Willis was key in hits like YMCA, Go West, and In The Navy.

The band’s macho characters made them famous worldwide in the 1970s.

Willis left the group in 1980 amid legal disputes over song rights.

He rejoined in 2017 to perform YMCA at Trump’s pre-inauguration rally in January 2025.

In a Facebook post, Willis defended their decision: “Music is performed without regard to politics. Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem for unity.”