Victor Willis, singer and co-founder of Village People, dies at 74
by Annie Martin · UPIJuly 1 (UPI) -- Victor Willis, a singer and the co-founder of the popular disco group Village People, has died.
The singer-songwriter died Tuesday as "a result of a short, but aggressive illness," his wife, Karen Willis, said on Facebook. He was 74.
The Village People official Facebook page also shared the news.
Willis performed as the frontman of the Village People, who released such hits as "Macho Man," "In the Navy" and "Y.M.C.A." during the height of their popularity in the late 1970s.
The group embraced archetypes of masculinity, with Willis and his bandmates often dressing up on stage as police officers, cowboys, construction workers and more.
After "Y.M.C.A." had a resurgence due to Donald Trump using the song at his presidential rallies, Willis said in 2024 that he "simply didn't have the heart" to oppose him.
Trump paid tribute to Willis in a social media post Wednesday, calling him "a great and happy guy."
Notable deaths of 2026
Clive Davis
Clive Davis arrives on the red carpet for the Pre-Grammy Gala on the eve of the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on January 31, 2026. The music mogul died at the age of 94 on June 22. Photo by Caroline Brehman/UPI | License Photo