Village People frontman Victor Willis dies at 74
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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, aggressive illness, according to the band and his wife.
- Born in Texas in 1951, Willis co-created the Village People in 1977, portraying the group's "Cop/Admiral" character, and rejoined 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 he helped revive the popularity of "Y.M.C.A." by frequently playing it at his rallies, despite initial objections from the group.
- Willis was married twice, including to actress Phylicia Rashad, and is survived by his wife Karen Huff-Willis.
