Victor Willis of the Village People Passes Away at 74

The iconic lead singer and co-founder of the Village People, Victor Willis, has died at the age of 74. His wife, Karen Huff-Willis, shared the heartbreaking news on Facebook.

“It is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of my husband, VICTOR WILLIS. Victor passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, as a result of a short, but aggressive illness,” the post noted. “The family requests privacy at this time of great loss.”

In a tribute, President Donald Trump expressed his condolences, highlighting the group’s famous song, “Y.M.C.A.” He reminisced about how the song became a hit at his rallies even decades after its initial release.

“Village People singer Victor Willis is dead at 74. He was a great and happy guy who loved that I used his group’s song, Y.M.C.A., at my rallies. It became a ‘monster’ hit, again, 30 years after its original launch. Many artists wanted to join in at the rallies after all the record attendance. But Victor and the group was there for us right from the start!” Trump wrote. “They loved the action, and we loved them and their uplifting song. We will think of Victor every time Y.M.C.A. is played, especially this July Fourth week. My condolences to his wonderful family. Victor Willis will be sorely missed. God Bless Him!!!”

Originally released in October 1978, “Y.M.C.A.” became a worldwide phenomenon, topping charts in 17 countries and inspiring an iconic dance. In 2020, it was recognized by the U.S. Library of Congress and added to the National Recording Registry as well as the Grammy Hall of Fame.

The song saw a resurgence in popularity when Trump began featuring it at his political events. The Village People even performed it at a rally before the president’s inauguration in January 2025.

Willis co-founded the Village People in the late 1970s and was the original frontman, leading the group to other hits like “Go West” and “In the Navy.” Although he departed in 1979 to pursue a solo career, he returned to the group in 2017 after winning a significant copyright lawsuit that reinstated his partial ownership of their music catalog.

Born in Texas and raised in San Francisco, Willis began his musical journey singing gospel in his father’s Baptist church before exploring jazz and soul. His early career included success with his high school band, The Ballads, which opened for The Temptations.