Victor Willis, the unmistakable voice at the front of Village People and a driving force behind some of disco’s most enduring anthems, has died at 74, according to a post on the group’s official Facebook page.
The Texas-born singer helped shape the band’s signature sound as its lead vocalist and co-writer, with credits on blockbuster hits including YMCA, Go West and In the Navy.
Willis, who appeared with a version of the disco group at several events tied to US President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025, died on Monday after what the band described as a “short but aggressive illness”.
The statement read: “We are profoundly sad to announce the death of Victor Willis, lead singer of Village People. Victor passed on Monday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy is requested.”
Village People became as famous for their theatrical, costume-heavy image as for their music, and Willis performed in roles that included a police officer, admiral and athlete. He left the group in 1980 before returning in 2017.
The band was pulled into US politics when Mr Trump began using YMCA during his 2020 re-election campaign, which ended in defeat to former US president Joe Biden. At the time, the group initially responded with a cease and desist letter.
Mr Trump returned to the song during his winning 2024 election campaign, a run that culminated in a line-up of Village People performing at events surrounding his 2025 inauguration.
Those appearances came even after former Village People member Jim Newman wrote on Instagram that the original group “would never ever” perform at a Trump rally.
Village People built a global following with their flamboyant costumes and larger-than-life stage personas, with Willis among those taking on the role of a police officer
In 2020, Willis said his band did not back Mr Trump, who has also played the group’s song Macho Man at campaign rallies.
Speaking to the BBC before those later performances linked to Trump events, he said: “I like hearing music at all times and I like the fact that fans of all kinds, Democrats or Republicans, they all like YMCA and that is something that is pleasing to me.
“As far as endorsing Trump, I don’t endorse Trump, I’ve never endorsed Trump, nor has Village People.
“We have even asked him basically to stop even playing our music at his rallies.”
Willis is survived by his wife, Karen Huff-Willis.
Source: Press Association and AFP
