Village People Frontman Victor Willis Dies At 74 After Brief Illness

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

Willis passed away on June 30, 2026, with his death confirmed in statements shared on the group’s official Facebook page and by his wife, Karen Huff-Willis, who requested privacy for the family.

Born in Texas and raised in San Francisco, Willis began singing gospel music in his father’s Baptist church before pursuing a career in theatre. He appeared in productions including ‘Hair’, ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ and ‘The Wiz’ before meeting French producer Jacques Morali in 1977.

The partnership led to the creation of Village People, with Willis serving as the group’s lead vocalist and co-writing several of its biggest hits, including ‘Y.M.C.A.’, ‘Go West, In the Navy ’, among others. Performing as the band’s policeman or naval officer, he became one of the defining faces of the disco era.

Willis left the group in 1980 but returned in 2017 after a lengthy legal battle over songwriting rights. In January 2025, he performed ‘Y.M.C.A.’ with the group at Donald Trump’s pre-inauguration rally. His death marks the loss of one of disco’s most iconic voices.