American Disco vocalist Victor Willis, of the group the Village People, performs onstage at the Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, June 21, 1979. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Victor Willis, a founding member of the 1970s disco group Village People and lead singer of the dance anthems “Y.M.C.A.,” “Macho Man” and “In the Navy,” has died.
Willis’ death was announced on the Village People’s Facebook account on Wednesday. Born on Victor Edward Willis on July 1, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, the singer died one day shy of his 75th birthday.
“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,” the post reads.
Released in 1978, “Y.M.C.A” was written by Village People producer Jacques Morali and Willis. The track appeared on the Village People’s third album, Cruisin’.
CIRCA 1980: The Village People pose for a Casablanca Records publicity shot circa 1980 (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
getty
Village People formed in 1977 by Morali, his business partner Henri Belolo and Willis. According to the group’s website, Morali and Belolo were working on an album for a client when a fateful call for backup singers was made.
“Horace Ott, the arranger/conductor who was working with them, suggested Victor Willis, a singer he was recording who also was performing in the Broadway musical The Wiz,” the site noted. “After Willis completed background on the album, Morali approached him about another musical project he and Belolo were planning, which turned out to be Village People.”
Village People’s members all wore distinct costumes on stage. Willis dressed either in a police officer’s uniform or a white Navy uniform.
The group’s debut album spawned the hit, “San Francisco (You’ve Got Me),” while “Macho Man” appeared on the Village People’s 1978 album of the same name. “In the Navy” was a hit single from the group’s fourth album, Go West, which was released in 1979.
Without question, Village People’s biggest hit was “Y.M.C.A.,” which was enshrined as a selection of the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry in 2021.
“Now, over 40 years since it hit the streets and the dance floors, ‘Y.M.C.A.,’ their biggest hit, is an American cultural phenomenon — people from all walks of life do the ‘Y.M.C.A.’ dance at weddings, Bar Mitzvahs or sporting events,” the Library of Congress announcement noted.
“It is as likely to be heard at a Midwestern prom as it is at New York City’s annual Gay Pride parade. Back in its heyday, ‘Y.M.C.A. was a hit around the world, going to No. 1 on the charts in over 15 countries, and its ongoing popularity is evidence that, despite the naysayers, disco has never truly died,” the Library of Congress added, noting that the single has sold more than 10 million physical copies.
Victor Willis Performed With The Village People At Donald Trump’s 2025 Presidential Inauguration
Among “Y.M.C.A.’s” biggest fans is President Donald Trump, who called Willis “a great and happy guy who loved that I used his group’s song” in a tribute post on his Truth Social account on Wednesday.
“We will think of Victor every time YMCA is played, like today, and all throughout this July Fourth Birthday week. My condolences to his wonderful family and group,” Trump said in part in the post.
Willis, who stated multiple times that he was opposed to the president using the song but eventually embraced it, performed the song with the Village People at Trump’s pre-inauguration rally in January 2025. In a Facebook post prior to the even, the group insisted it was not political.
“If anyone out there thinks that VILLAGE PEOPLE will not do the biggest performance of VILLAGE PEOPLE’s careers, EVER, for political reasons, think again,” the post reads.
“VILLAGE PEOPLE will perform for both Democrats and Republicans. We are not a political group. Never has been, never will be, no matter how hard some of you out there are trying very hard to make us such. We perform without regard to politics. And Village People will not take on one group’s political issues.”