Victor Willis, the co-founder and lead singer of Village People, has died at the age of 74.
The Dallas-born musician died on Tuesday “as a result of a short, but aggressive illness,” his wife, Karen Huff-Willis, announced on his Facebook page on Wednesday, which would have been his 75th birthday.
“The family request privacy at this time of great loss,” she wrote.
The band confirmed the news on its own page.
The group achieved worldwide fame in the 1970s with hits including “Y.M.C.A.,” “Go West” and “In the Navy,” which Willis co-wrote.
Willis performed onstage with the band dressed as a cop or as a naval officer.
He left the group twice in the 1980s and rejoined in 2017, just before “Y.M.C.A.” became one of Donald Trump’s favorite songs to dance to during his 2020 presidential election campaign rallies.
Willis initially asked Trump to stop using the hit song but later performed an about-face, and the group went on to perform for the returning president in January 2025 as part of his second inauguration festivities.
Responding to news of Willis’ death, Trump paid tribute on his Truth Social platform, writing he was “a great and happy guy who loved that I used his groups song, YMCA, at my Rallies.”
“It became a ‘monster’ hit, again, 30 years after its original launch,” Trump continued. “Many singers and groups wanted to get on board at the Rallies after all of the Rally Attendance Records were set – The crowds were, and are, enormous – But Victor and the group was there for us right from the beginning!”
“They loved the action, and we loved them and their great and uplifting song,” said Trump. “We will think of Victor every time YMCA is played, like today, and all throughout this July Fourth Birthday week. My condolences to his wonderful family and group, Victor Willis will be sorely missed, God Bless Him!!!”
The group released its latest single, “DISCO STAR,” last month.