Remembering a Disco Icon
Victor Willis, Village People's Founding Lead Singer and 'YMCA' Co-Writer, Dies Aged 74
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Key Points
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Victor Willis appeared in the original Broadway production of The Wiz in 1976, reflecting his early roots in theater before Village People.
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YMCA was described by the Library of Congress as 'an American phenomenon' in 2020 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame the following year, underscoring its lasting cultural impact beyond disco era fame.
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Willis briefly rejoined Village People in 1982 to recapture the magic, releasing the Fox on the Box album before departing again in 1983.
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The Village People have connections to Donald Trump, described as one of his favorite bands, and performed at Turning Point USA's inaugural ball for Trump’s second inauguration after initially resisting the use of their music by him.
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During his time with the group, Willis wrote lyrics for two songs for the film Can't Stop the Music: 'Magic Night' and 'Milkshake.'
Victor Willis, the founding lead singer of Village People and co-writer of "YMCA," "Macho Man," and "In the Navy," died on June 30, 2026, following a short but aggressive illness. He was 74 — just one day shy of his 75th birthday. Variety and Deadline confirmed his passing after the band announced it on their official Facebook page at 8:00 PM EST.
Willis was not just the man in the cop uniform. He was the primary lyricist behind Village People's biggest songs and, in 2012, became the first songwriter to successfully use U.S. copyright law to reclaim rights to his own music. His wife and manager Karen Willis asked for privacy, saying: "The world has lost a pioneer. Victor was not just a voice; he was a songwriter whose lyrics became the soundtrack of an era."
From Gospel Roots to Disco's Biggest Stage
Willis was born on July 1, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in San Francisco, where his father served as a Baptist minister. That gospel upbringing gave him a powerful baritone that set him apart from most disco performers of his era. In 1976, he appeared on Broadway in the original production of *The Wiz*, playing Uncle Henry — stage experience that prepared him to front one of pop music's most theatrical acts.
In 1977, French producer Jacques Morali recruited Willis to lead a new concept group: Village People. Willis was the only trained singer in the original lineup, according to Billboard. By 1979, the group had sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide. "YMCA" peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 that year, held from the top spot only by Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"
Willis Won Back His Songs Using a Law Most Artists Ignored
Willis left Village People in 1980, briefly returned in 1982 to record the album *Fox on the Box*, then departed again in 1983. For years, he received nothing from the songs he wrote — having originally signed them away as "work for hire," according to The New York Times. That changed in 2012, when he became the first songwriter to successfully use the "35-year rule" of the Copyright Act of 1976.
That law lets authors reclaim their copyrights after 35 years. Willis used it to win back rights to 33 songs, including "YMCA," "Go West," and "In the Navy," beating Scorpio Music and Can't Stop Productions in court. The Hollywood Reporter noted his victory paved the way for other artists — including Duran Duran and Billy Joel — to pursue similar claims. He rejoined the group in 2017 as its sole remaining original member.
"YMCA" Outlasted Disco and Entered the Culture Wars
The Library of Congress named "YMCA" "an American phenomenon" in 2020. The Grammy Hall of Fame inducted it in 2021. The song now has 467 million streams on Spotify. It is played at sporting events, weddings, and political rallies around the world. That last use became deeply controversial when Donald Trump began playing it — and "Macho Man" — at campaign rallies.
Willis initially threatened legal action against the Trump campaign over the unauthorized use. But by January 20, 2025, Village People performed at the Turning Point USA inaugural ball for Trump's second inauguration, according to The Washington Post. The shift struck many observers as a pragmatic business decision. Trump has long called Village People one of his favorite bands.
What Willis Leaves Behind — Songs, Rights, and a Legal Blueprint
Willis's death leaves control of the Village People trademark and the 33 song rights he reclaimed likely in the hands of his estate, managed by Karen Willis. That means the family retains veto power over how "YMCA" is used in commercials, films, and political events. The song's royalties are estimated to generate millions of dollars annually.
Beyond the money, Willis leaves a legal blueprint for artists trapped in bad early contracts. He also leaves a body of work the Library of Congress itself called social history. Music critic Nelson George put it plainly: "Willis wasn't parodying the characters; he was embodying them with a voice that could have easily been at home in a Baptist choir or a Broadway house."
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