Victor Willis died on Monday, June 30, 2026. He was 74 years old. He was the famous lead singer of the disco group, the Village People. His wife and the band said he died after a short illness. He was a very important singer and songwriter for the group.
The Village People became very famous in the 1970s. They were known for their special costumes. Willis wrote many popular songs like "YMCA" and "In The Navy." People all over the world still sing these songs today.
Before he was a star, Willis grew up in San Francisco. He sang gospel music in his father's church. Later, he also studied jazz and soul music. This helped him become a great singer.
Life was not always easy for him. After he left the band in 1980, he had many problems. He fought in court for many years because he wanted to own the songs he wrote. He also had personal problems with drugs. These years were very difficult for him.
However, Willis won his legal fight in 2015. A jury said he owned 50% of many songs, including "YMCA." In 2017, he joined the Village People again. He returned to the stage to sing with his old group. His music will live on forever, and people will always remember his great voice.