Victor Willis, vocalist of Village People

The frontman and one of the founders of the legendary Village People group, Victor Willis, died on June 30, 2026 at the age of 74 after struggling with a serious illness. His death was announced on the band's official social media page.

Victor Willis was born on July 1, 1951, in Texas, where he began his musical career, performing in the church choir and forming the band Ballads. He was educated in dance and acting, participated in musicals on Broadway and Las Vegas, and worked with the Negro Ensemble Company.

In 1977, he met French disco producer Jacques Morali before joining the emerging band Village People. Together they created disco hits such as "Macho Man", "Y.M.C.A." and "In the Navy", which brought the band worldwide fame. Willis also worked on writing lyrics for other artists.

Despite his success, Willis repeatedly left Village People to pursue a solo career and record the album Solo Man, which was never released for years. However, in 2017, he returned to the band and went on to record new albums, including the successful single "Magic Christmas". His contribution to the work of Village People will forever remain in the history of music.