The flags will be half-staff at the White House today: Victor Willis, lead singer and original member of the popular disco-era group The Village People, has died at the age of 74.
According to a statement from released Wednesday, Willis died following a “a short but aggressive illness.”
The Village People skyrocketed to fame in the late 1970s with infectious disco hits “Y.M.C.A.”, “In the Navy,” and “Macho Man.” Adding to their appeal, especially within the gay community, was the group’s subversion of hyper-masculine archetypes, with members dressing in outfits including a policeman (portrayed by Willis), cowboy, Native American, construction worker, soldier, and leather biker. During the peak of their popularity, “Y.M.C.A.” reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200, while “In the Navy” hit No. 3.
Years later, Donald Trump would adopt “Y.M.C.A.” as a quasi theme song and invited Willis and other current members of The Village People to perform it live at his 2024 presidential inauguration.
Over time, Willis came to reject the gay connotations attached to “Y.M.C.A.” and The Village People, especially as critics weaponized the track to mock the group’s newfound popularity in the wake of their associations with Trump. In December 2024, Willis even threatened to take legal action against news outlets that described the song as a “gay anthem.” However, David Hodo, who performed as The Village People’s construction worker in 1977 and sang backing vocals on “Y.M.C.A.” disputed Willis’ claims, saying the group’s co-founder and producer Jacques Morali did make intentional references to gay culture in the song.
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Willis was born in Texas but moved to New York as an adult. After appearing in a string of stage musicals, including Broadway’s The Wiz, he crossed paths with producer Morali, and the two co-founded the Village People in 1977. As disco’s mainstream popularity began to wane, Willis left the group, first in 1980, and again in 1983, in order to pursue a solo career. Decades later in 2017, he returned to front a rebooted lineup full-time and led the group until his death.
Trump posted a tribute to Willis early Wednesday morning, calling him a “a great and happy guy” who “loved that I used his groups song, ‘Y.M.C.A.’, at my Rallies. It became a ‘monster’ hit, again, 30 years after its original launch.”
“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!” Trump added. “They loved the action, and we loved them and their great and uplifting song. We will think of Victor every time ‘Y.M.C.A.’”