Victor Willis, the founding lead singer of Village People and co-writer of “YMCA,” “Macho Man” and “In the Navy,” died on Tuesday. He was 74.
“We are profoundly sad to announce the death of Victor Willis, lead singer of Village People. Victor passed on Monday June 30, 2026 of a short but aggressive illness. Privacy is requested,” it was posted on the Village People official Facebook page.
The son of a Baptist preacher, Willis grew up in San Francisco, where he developed his voice singing in his father’s church. With training in acting and dance, he relocated to New York and joined the Negro Ensemble Company, appearing in numerous musicals and plays, including the original Broadway production of “The Wiz” in 1976.
His career changed course after he was introduced to French disco producer Jacques Morali, who approached him with an audacious pitch: that Willis would front his new album and make it a massive hit. Willis agreed, and the debut Village People album was released in July 1977. After an appearance on “American Bandstand” prompted demand for a live act, Willis and Morali assembled a full group of performers around him – the archetypal costumed characters who would become one of the most recognizable ensembles in pop history.
