Victor Willis, the lead singer of Village People and a co-writer of YMCA, has died at 74. According to BBC, the band announced that the Texas-born performer died on Monday, June 30, 2026, after a short but aggressive illness. Willis helped drive some of disco’s biggest records, including Go West and In The Navy, while fronting a group that became globally famous for its themed costumes and high-energy stage image. His voice and songwriting gave the act much of its punch during the late 1970s.

Victor Willis Shaped Village People's Biggest Hits

Before disco fame, singer Victor Willis grew up in San Francisco, where he sang gospel in his father’s church and later moved into jazz and soul. He also performed in stage productions including Hair, Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Wiz. In 1977, French producer Jacques Morali brought him into a new project that soon became Village People. Morali told him, "I had a dream that you sang lead on my album and it went very, very big," according to BBC. That instinct paid off as Willis became central to the group’s breakout run.

YMCA Became a Global Disco Landmark

The group’s late-70s output turned Willis into a major figure in pop music. Cruisin' and Macho Man, both released in 1978, helped build the band’s momentum, while Go West followed in 1979. YMCA became the signature song, reaching number one in 17 countries and later earning recognition from the US Library of Congress and the Grammy Hall of Fame. Its chant, hook and dance routine kept it alive across generations, from clubs to weddings. Even decades later, the track stayed tied to Willis as both a performer and songwriter.

Copyright Fight Changed His Career

Willis left the group around 1980 and struggled to build a solo path after the band’s image overshadowed his wider ambitions. He later spoke openly about depression and drug use during the 1980s and 1990s. His fortunes shifted after treatment, probation and a long legal battle over song rights. In 2015, a federal jury ruled that he was entitled to 50% ownership in the US of 13 songs he had helped write, including YMCA. That decision restored a key part of his musical legacy and opened the door for his return to the group in 2017.

Trump Rally Performance Drew New Attention

In later years, Willis again entered the political spotlight because of YMCA’s use at Donald Trump rallies. In 2020, he pushed back on any suggestion of support, saying, "I don't endorse Trump, I've never endorsed Trump, nor has the Village People," Willis told BBC. Yet he later took part in Trump’s pre-inauguration rally in January 2025, writing on Facebook that music should be performed without regard to politics. Following news of his death, Trump praised him in a public tribute. Willis leaves behind a catalog that still fills dance floors worldwide.