Victor Willis, the lead singer and co-founder of the disco group, Village People, has died at the age of 74 following a brief but aggressive illness.

His wife announced his passing in a statement shared on his official Facebook page on Wednesday, saying Willis died on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

Born in Texas, Willis helped establish Village People in 1977 and co-wrote some of the group’s biggest hits, including Y.M.C.A., In the Navy and Macho Man. The songs became global disco classics and remain widely recognised decades after their release.

US President, Donald Trump paid tribute to Willis, describing him as a cheerful man who appreciated the use of Y.M.C.A. at his political rallies. Trump said the song enjoyed renewed popularity through its association with his campaign events and added that Willis would be remembered whenever it was played.

Village People rose to international fame with their colourful costumes, energetic choreography and stage characters inspired by occupations such as police officers, soldiers, construction workers and cowboys.

The group became one of the defining acts of the disco era and gained a strong following within the LGBTQ community.

Willis left the band in 1980. Over the years, he faced personal challenges, including drug addiction, and reached a plea agreement in a cocaine possession case in 2006. He returned to Village People in 2017 after winning a copyright case that restored part-ownership of several of the band’s best-known songs.

Although Y.M.C.A. has long been embraced as an LGBTQ anthem, Willis consistently maintained that it was not written with that intention. The song was inducted into both the US Library of Congress National Recording Registry and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2020.

In recent years, Y.M.C.A. became closely associated with President Trump’s political rallies, with Village People performing the song at one of his campaign events ahead of his second inauguration in January 2025. At the time, Willis urged Americans to give the president an opportunity to govern, while stating that the group would speak out if LGBTQ rights came under threat.

(Photo Credit: The Globe and Mail)