Victor Willis, the founding lead singer of the Village People and co-writer of the group’s beloved anthem “Y.M.C.A.,” died on Tuesday. He was 74.

His wife, Karen Huff-Willis, shared the news through a Facebook post early Wednesday morning. The band’s official Facebook page stated that Willis died on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, following a brief but serious illness, and noted that his family requested privacy.

A Song That Became an American Phenomenon

Willis co-wrote all of the Village People’s biggest singles, but none eclipsed “Y.M.C.A.” The track, released in 1978 and often performed by Willis in a police officer costume, became a multigenerational cultural icon. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and added to the National Recording Registry in March 2020, when the Library of Congress called it “an American phenomenon.” Other enduring hits from the group included “In the Navy,” “Macho Man,” and “Go West.”

Willis later addressed the perception that “Y.M.C.A.” was written as a gay anthem, calling it a “false assumption.” According to Willis, the song’s inspiration came from his firsthand experience with San Francisco YMCA locations that provided swimming pools, basketball courts, affordable food, and low-cost lodging.

Presidential Tribute Follows Longtime Use at Rallies

President Donald Trump paid tribute to Willis on Truth Social on Wednesday. Trump, who regularly played “Y.M.C.A.” at his campaign events, credited those rallies with helping to revive the hit song. He recalled that Willis and the Village People had performed at an event connected to his second inauguration in January 2025.

“They loved the action, and we loved them and their great and uplifting song,” Trump wrote. He added that Willis would be remembered whenever the song plays during the July Fourth holiday and in the years ahead.

Willis had mixed feelings about Trump’s use of “Y.M.C.A.” at political events. He initially objected to the song being played at rallies but later changed his position, explaining that he couldn’t bring himself to stop someone who genuinely loved the music. He also noted that the renewed attention had generated substantial financial returns. Despite supporting Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in 2024, Willis performed with the Village People at Trump’s pre-inauguration rally in January 2025.

Departures, Legal Battles, and a Return

Willis left the Village People in 1980 to pursue solo work, which eventually resulted in legal conflicts. He won a battle for royalties on songs he co-created with the group, achieving a significant 2012 copyright victory — the first case resolved under the Copyright Act of 1976 concerning artists’ ability to reclaim their creative works. Following an out-of-court settlement with Belolo in 2017, Willis rejoined the band as lead singer, though the return created tension with some former members. During his time away from the group, Willis struggled with addiction and entered the Betty Ford Clinic for treatment in 2007.

From Dallas to Disco Royalty

Born July 1, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, Willis grew up in San Francisco, where he developed his vocal talents singing at the Baptist church where his father served as pastor. He later moved to New York City and joined the Negro Ensemble Company, performing in musicals and stage productions such as the original Broadway run of The Wiz in 1976. During this period, he met his future wife, Phylicia Ayers-Allen — who became known as Phylicia Rashad — and they were married from 1978 through the early 1980s.

Willis’s career took a new direction when French disco producer Jacques Morali and business partner Henri Belolo brought him in to lead an ambitious musical project. Morali imagined a group centered on exaggerated American masculine stereotypes — the police officer, the cowboy, the construction worker — and Willis was the ideal frontman. The first Village People album was released in July 1977, and following a television performance that created public demand for live shows, the complete group formed with Willis as its charismatic lead.

A Legacy Louder Than Any Controversy

In his Truth Social tribute, Trump called Willis “a great and happy guy” and said he would think of him every time “Y.M.C.A.” played. For many, the song transcended its complicated politics and its creator’s turbulent personal journey, standing simply as one of the most recognizable pieces of music in American pop history — a record the Library of Congress deemed worthy of permanent preservation among the nation’s sonic heritage.

Willis leaves behind his wife, Karen Huff-Willis. The family has requested privacy at this time.