Village People lead singer Victor Willis dead at 74

Village People lead singer Victor Willis dead at 74

Dallas-born Willis died of a 'short but aggressive illness' Tuesday, the group announced

Village People lead singer Victor Willis, co-writer of 1970s-era disco hits including Y.M.C.A. and Macho Man, has died at 74.

A post on the group's official Facebook page announced the entertainer's death. He was born in Dallas on July 1, 1951.

"We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People," the post said.

"Victor passed on Tuesday ... of a short but aggressive illness."

Willis’s wife, Karen-Huff Willis, posted on the musician's Facebook page on Wednesday.

“It is with profound sadness that I must announce the death of my husband …," she wrote.

“The family request privacy at this time of great loss.”

Willis co-founded the group along with Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo, and co-wrote other hits including In the Navy and Go West.

Village People co-founder Henri Belolo dead at 82

Willis performed while dressed as a police or naval officer, with other band members also wearing clothes associated with archetypical macho characters.

The six-member band has become associated with U.S. President Donald Trump in recent years, performing Y.M.C.A. at his pre-inauguration rally in January 2025.