Victor Willis, the lead vocalist of the disco group Village People, known for hits like “Y.M.C.A.,” passed away at the age of 74. His wife, Karen-Huff Willis, and the band confirmed his death through Facebook posts on Wednesday.

It is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of my husband, VICTOR WILLIS,” Karen-Huff Willis stated on his Facebook page. Victor passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, as a result of a short, but aggressive illness, she added.

The group issued a similar statement on Facebook. Willis, originally from Texas, co-founded the Village People and co-wrote several iconic songs, such as “Y.M.C.A.,” “In the Navy,” and “Macho Man.” These songs dominated dance floors globally in the late 1970s. The group, renowned for their vivid costumes and choreography, became a cultural sensation, especially appealing to the disco-loving LGBTQ community with their portrayal of fantasy characters like builders, bikers, cowboys, and soldiers.

Willis departed from the Village People in 1980, but he rejoined the band in 2017. He confronted drug addiction issues and accepted a plea deal for cocaine possession in 2006. In an interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune in 2015, he revealed, I got very depressed over the years and decided to just drop off the map. So I got into drugs.

The song “Y.M.C.A.” became a significant anthem for the LGBTQ community and beyond. However, its association with President Trump’s rallies, where it was frequently played, led some to view the song’s usage as a co-optation by the American right-wing movement. In a 2020 interview with the BBC, Willis clarified, I don’t endorse Trump, I’ve never endorsed Trump, nor has the Village People. But because of the copyright laws in the United States, he’s able to play our music anytime he wants to.

Despite the political associations, the band performed “Y.M.C.A.” at a Trump rally in January 2025. At the rally, Willis remarked, Let’s give President Trump a chance, regardless of what you may have thought about him in the past. Let’s see what he’s going to do moving forward, and if he does things to restrict LGBTQ rights, Village People will be the first to speak out.

In 2012, during Willis’s absence from the group, a legal decision allowed him to regain partial ownership of the copyrights to more than two dozen songs, including “Y.M.C.A.,” “Macho Man,” and “In the Navy.” This legal victory contributed to his return to the band in 2017, the BBC reported.