Victor Willis, Village People Lead Singer, Dead at 74 Victor Willis , the co-founder, original frontman, and unmistakable voice behind Village People, has died at age 74, his wife and band confirmed Wednesday. His wife, Karen Huff Willis, shared the news on his official Facebook page, saying he passed on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, following a "short, but aggressive illness." The band echoed the statement, asking for privacy during this time. Texas-born Willis co-wrote some of the most iconic songs in pop history — "Y.M.C.A.," "In the Navy," "Macho Man" and "Go West" — tracks that turned Village People into a global disco phenomenon in the late '70s and remain dancefloor staples nearly five decades later. "Y.M.C.A." was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2020 and the Grammy Hall of Fame the following year. Willis left the group in 1980, battled substance abuse over the years, and won a landmark 2012 copyright case that helped him reclaim ownersh...