Victor Willis, Village People founding member, lead singer, and co-writer of many of their hits, died Tuesday at the age of 74.
The news came via Willis’ social media, in a post that appeared to be written by the singer’s wife, Karen Huff-Willis. “It is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of my husband, Victor Willis,” the post read. “Victor passed away on Tuesday June 30, 2026 as a result of a short, but aggressive illness. The family request privacy at this time of great loss.”
At the time of his death, Willis was the only original member of the Village People to still perform with the group. He appeared in their original 1977 lineup and performed on and off as member — often dressed as a police office or a naval officer — for nearly the last 50 years.
Willis co-wrote the Village People’s biggest hit, “Y.M.C.A.,” alongside fellow member Jacques Morali. The track, released in 1978, made it to No. 2 on Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart early the following year. It was the first in a series of hits for the campy disco group that also included “In the Navy” and “Macho Man,” but “Y.M.C.A.” would remain their most enduring song.
After the Recording Academy inducted “Y.M.C.A.” into the Grammys Hall of Fame in 2020, Willis gave an interview to TMZ, voicing his displeasure with the Grammys. He said that the awards failed to “show respect for classic artists who built the recording business” by not holding a ceremony for songs inducted into the hall of fame or making any mention of the achievement during the telecast and that because of this, the honors were “not taken seriously by the recording academy.”
But despite Willis’ issues with the institution, the Grammys still recognized the track, as did the Library of Congress that same year by preserving it in the National Recording Registry for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
