Village People Singer Victor Willis Dead At 74 After Brief Illness

NEW YORK, NY. (THECOUNT) — Victor Willis, the co-founder and original lead singer of the iconic disco group Village People, whose unmistakable vocals helped make “Y.M.C.A.,” “In the Navy,” and “Go West” international hits, has died following a brief but aggressive illness, his family announced Wednesday.

Willis was 74.

In a statement posted to the Village People’s official Facebook page, the band confirmed that Willis passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2026.

“We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People,” the statement read. “Victor passed on Tuesday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy is requested.”

Willis’ wife, Karen Huff Willis, later shared a similar statement on social media requesting privacy for the family.

Born in Texas, Willis co-founded Village People in the late 1970s and became the unmistakable voice behind many of the group’s biggest disco-era hits, including “Y.M.C.A.,” “Go West,” and “In the Navy.” The group’s colorful costumes, energetic performances, and infectious music made them one of the defining acts of the disco movement.

Willis left Village People in 1979 to pursue a solo career before rejoining the group in 2017, a return that led to legal and public disputes with some former bandmates over ownership and creative control.

Victor Willis, lead singer of the band Village People who is known for hits like ‘YMCA,’ has passed away at 74. pic.twitter.com/JPvq4cGhZY

— Pop Base (@PopBase) July 1, 2026

In recent years, “Y.M.C.A.” experienced a major resurgence after President Donald Trump regularly played the song and danced to it during campaign rallies beginning in 2020.

Trump paid tribute to Willis Wednesday on Truth Social, calling him “a great and happy guy who loved that I used his group’s song, YMCA, at my Rallies.” The president described the song as “uplifting” and said he would “think of Victor every time YMCA is played.”

Willis initially considered asking Trump to stop using the song after receiving thousands of complaints from critics. However, he later reversed course, saying Trump genuinely enjoyed the music and that he could not bring himself to block its use.

In a 2024 statement, Willis wrote that Trump “seems to genuinely like Y.M.C.A. and he’s having a lot of fun with it. As such, I simply didn’t have the heart to prevent his continued use of my song.” He also acknowledged that renewed exposure had produced significant financial benefits through increased royalties.

Willis later performed at President Trump’s pre-inauguration rally in January 2025.

Throughout his later years, Willis also sought to clarify the origins of “Y.M.C.A.,” rejecting the widespread belief that it had been written as a gay anthem. He explained that the lyrics were inspired by his experiences with urban YMCA facilities in San Francisco, where he associated the organization with affordable lodging, sports, and community activities.

Over a career spanning nearly five decades, Willis helped create some of the most recognizable songs in popular music history. “Y.M.C.A.” remains one of the best-selling and most frequently played party anthems worldwide, continuing to resonate across generations.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

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