Willis was a founding member of the group and co-wrote many of its best-known songs, including the hit ‘Y.M.C.A’
Victor Willis, the founding lead singer and co-songwriter of disco group Village People, has died at the age of 75 following what the band described as a “short but aggressive illness”.
The news was announced on Village People’s official social media accounts in a statement that read, “We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People.”
The statement continued, “Victor passed on Monday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy is requested.”
Willis was a founding member of the group and co-wrote many of its best-known songs, including “Y.M.C.A”, “Go West” and “In The Navy”.
Initially discovered through a demo recording by Can’t Stop Productions, he recorded the first Village People album as a solo vocalist before additional performers were recruited and the group’s signature character costumes were introduced.
Although Willis left Village People in 1979, the band continued with different lead singers.
In 2012, he won a landmark legal case securing a 33% share of the songwriting rights to several of the group’s biggest hits, with that share later increasing to 50% in 2015.
Willis returned to Village People in 2017, rejoining the touring line-up for concerts, festivals and Pride events around the world.
In recent years, the group’s music attracted renewed political attention after Donald Trump used “Y.M.C.A” at campaign rallies.
Willis initially asked the US president to stop using the song, although the group later performed at a pre-inauguration rally following Trump’s second election victory.
Fans paid tribute across social media following news of Willis’s death, remembering his contribution to one of disco’s most recognisable acts. Willis is survived by his wife, Karen Huff-Willis.
