Victor Willis, Village People lead singer, dies at 74
Good Morning America • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Victor Willis, lead singer of the Village People known for hits like "YMCA," "In the Navy," and "Macho Man," died at age 74 after a brief but aggressive illness, according to the band and his wife.
- Born in Texas in 1951, Willis co-created the Village People in 1977 and embodied the group's iconic "Cop/Admiral" character, returning to the band permanently in 2017 after several departures.
- The song "Y.M.C.A." was inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2020 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021, with Willis expressing pride in the song's enduring global popularity.
- Former President Donald Trump mourned Willis' death, noting his role in reviving "Y.M.C.A." at campaign rallies, despite initial objections from the group to the use of their music at political events.
- Willis was previously married to actress Phylicia Rashad and is survived by his wife Karen Huff-Willis, an entertainment executive and attorney.
