Victor Willis, the founding lead singer of Village People and the voice behind one of the most recognizable songs in American pop culture history, died Tuesday (June 30) after what his family described as "a short but aggressive illness."

He was 74 years old — one day shy of his 75th birthday.

"We are profoundly sad to announce the death of VICTOR WILLIS, lead singer of Village People," the band said in a statement posted to its official Facebook page.

His wife, Karen Huff Willis, issued a separate statement confirming the news and requesting privacy for the family.

Willis was born in Texas and raised in San Francisco, the son of a Baptist preacher whose church is where he first developed his voice. He trained in acting and dance before relocating to New York, where he joined the prestigious Negro Ensemble Company and appeared in several productions, including the original 1976 Broadway run of The Wiz.

His career shifted course entirely after French disco producer Jacques Morali, who called Willis "the young man with the big voice," approached him to front what would become Village People. The group's debut album dropped in July 1977, and within a year Willis had co-written what would become their signature hit — "Y.M.C.A.," released in 1978.

Willis went on to co-write all of the group's biggest singles, including "In the Navy" and "Go West." He performed onstage in a police officer's uniform, one of the group's now-iconic visual archetypes.

In March 2020, the Library of Congress added "Y.M.C.A." to the National Recording Registry, describing it as "an American phenomenon." The song was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Willis left the group in 1980 and again briefly in 1983, eventually returning full-time in 2017 after reaching an out-of-court settlement with Morali's business partner. He also won a landmark 2012 legal ruling under the Copyright Act of 1976, which allowed him to reclaim rights to his work, becoming the first songwriter to successfully reclaim U.S. copyrights under the termination provisions of the Copyright Act of 1976.

"Y.M.C.A." experienced a significant second wave of popularity when Donald Trump began playing the song at the close of his campaign rallies. Willis initially objected to Trump's use of the song during the 2020 campaign, saying the use "had become a nuisance," before eventually concluding he simply "didn't have the heart to prevent his continued use," adding that "the financial benefits have been great."

Willis performed the song at Trump's pre-inauguration rally in January 2025. Trump paid tribute to Willis on Truth Social following the news of his death, calling him "a great and happy guy" who "loved" that he used the song at his rallies.

In his personal life, Willis was previously married to actress Phylicia Rashad — then known as Phylicia Ayers-Allen — from 1978 to 1982, having met her during the run of The Wiz.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Huff Willis.

The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.

Entertainment