Victor Willis, a co-founder of the Village People and co-writer of disco classics such as “Y.M.C.A.,” “Macho Man,” and “In the Navy,” has passed away at the age of 74. The group shared the news of his death on their official Facebook page, stating that Willis succumbed to a “short but aggressive illness.”
Willis, a musician and actor, once graced Broadway in “The Wiz.” He joined the Village People in 1977, capitalizing on the disco trend. The band included members dressed as distinctive characters: a biker, construction worker, cop, cowboy, and Native American chief. The group’s formation materialized with producer Jacques Morali and his business partner Henri Belolo after an encounter at a gay nightclub in Manhattan’s West Village.
Their debut album, released in 1977, set the stage for future successes. In 1978, “Macho Man” and “Cruisin’” hit the market, featuring the global sensation “Y.M.C.A.,” which soared to No. 2 on the Billboard chart. The subsequent album, “Go West,” came in 1979 and featured “In the Navy,” reaching No. 3 on the charts, while “Macho Man” secured the No. 25 spot the previous year.
In 2020, the song “Y.M.C.A.” was described by Congress as “an American phenomenon” and added to the National Recording Registry. It gained further recognition in 2021 with induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Willis also appeared in the 1980 film “Can’t Stop the Music,” a comedy featuring the Village People that received harsh reviews.
Village People music continues to energize events such as pool parties, dances, weddings, and public gatherings. The songs have also played as anthems at gay marches and even at the White House. Former President Donald Trump expressed his condolences, noting that Willis’s memory lives on whenever “Y.M.C.A.” is played.
While several musicians objected to Trump using their music, Willis stated he did not believe playing the song constituted an endorsement. Born in Texas and raised in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury, Willis drew inspiration from a YMCA in New York for the famous hit song.
Ownership disputes over Village People’s songs emerged over the years. In 2015, a federal jury awarded Willis 50% copyright ownership in the United States for 13 songs, including “Y.M.C.A.” Following a period marked by drug-related arrests, Willis shared with the Associated Press in 2012 that his life had improved significantly.
In recent times, Willis performed with the Village People — as the only remaining original member — singing “Happy Birthday” and “Y.M.C.A.” for Secretary of State Marco Rubio at an event in India.
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