In the Village People, He Was the Authority

Victor Willis, whose voice powered some of disco's most enduring anthems, has died at 74 following a brief illness, his band announced. The Village People frontman and co-writer helped turn songs like "YMCA," "In the Navy," and "Go West" into global staples of late-1970s pop culture. The Texas native was the original lead singer of the costumed group, known for portraying cartoonishly macho personas; Willis typically appeared as a police officer or naval officer, per the BBC.

He exited the Village People in 1980 and later spent years in court over song rights before rejoining the act in 2017. Willis went on to perform "YMCA" at President Trump's pre-inauguration rally in January 2025. The group, one of Trump's favorites, also performed at the Turning Point USA inaugural ball last year to celebrate Trump's second inauguration, per Deadline. The Village People confirmed Willis' death Wednesday on its official Facebook page, saying he died Tuesday after a brief, aggressive illness and asking for privacy.