Village People frontman Victor Willis passes away at 74

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Village People frontman Victor Willis passes away at 74

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Village People frontman Victor Willis passes away at 74

Credited from: BBC

Victor Willis, lead singer of Village People, dies at 74 due to a short illness.
He co-wrote iconic disco hits, including YMCA and In The Navy.
Willis faced legal battles over music rights but enjoyed a resurgence with the band in 2017.
The group became a cultural phenomenon, particularly within the LGBTQ community.
A controversial figure, he expressed support for giving Trump a chance despite the song's co-option.

Victor Willis, the renowned lead singer of the disco group Village People, has died at the age of 74, as confirmed in a Facebook post from his spouse. Willis passed away on June 30, 2026, due to a short but aggressive illness, according to BBC, Channel News Asia, CBS News, and South China Morning Post.

A Texas native, Willis was a co-founder and key songwriter for Village People, contributing to hits such as "YMCA" and "In The Navy." The group became iconic in the late 1970s, characterized by their flamboyant costumes and camp personas that resonated with disco and LGBTQ audiences, as noted by CBS News and Channel News Asia.

Willis rejoined the band in 2017 after years of legal disputes over copyright issues surrounding their songs, and he notably performed "YMCA" at President Trump's rally in January 2025. He had expressed a desire to "give President Trump a chance" despite acknowledging the song's appropriation by the political right, as reported by South China Morning Post and BBC.