Village People lead singer Victor Willis has died at the age of 74
Victor Willis, the longtime frontman and songwriter for the American disco group Village People, has passed away at the age of 74.
The artist’s death was caused by a serious illness, as officially announced by his colleagues on the group’s Facebook page.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Victor Willis, lead singer of the Village People. Victor passed away on Monday, June 30, 2026, following a brief but serious illness,” the band members noted in their post.
The singer’s death is a significant loss for the global music industry, as it was his voice and energy that made the group recognizable around the world.
Willis was one of the founders of the legendary group, whose tracks “Y.M.C.A.,” “Go West,” and “In The Navy” became true anthems of the disco era.
The name of the musical project was chosen as a tribute to New York City’s Greenwich Village, known as a historic hub of the LGBTQ+ community.
After Victor first left the Village People in 1979, the group continued to tour with other performers.
However, it was the group’s founder who eventually secured legal justice regarding his own creative legacy.
In 2012, he won a landmark court case, under which he was awarded 33% of the royalties, and this share later increased to 50%.
This is mentioned in a post on the band’s Facebook page.
In Russia, a retiree died while waiting in line for gas
Mykhailo Matsialko, founder and leader of the legendary band “Sokoly,” has died
