The iconic Village People announced on Wednesday that their lead singer, Victor Willis, had passed away at the age of 74 after a short but aggressive illness.
“We are profoundly saddened to announce the passing of Victor Willis, lead singer of Village People,” the band wrote on Facebook. “Victor passed away on Monday, June 30, 2026, following a brief but aggressive illness. We kindly ask that the family’s privacy be respected.”
Willis was one of the defining voices of the disco era and helped create some of the genre’s most enduring hits. As the lead singer of Village People, he co-wrote and performed classics including YMCA, Macho Man, In the Navy, and Go West.
Before joining the group in the late 1970s, Willis had already made a name for himself on Broadway, starring in the original production of The Wiz. Alongside his bandmates, he helped turn Village People into a worldwide sensation. Named after New York City’s Greenwich Village, the group became famous for its colorful costumes, catchy music, and lasting cultural impact.
For years, Donald Trump has played YMCA at his political rallies, often pairing the song with his signature dance moves. Speaking at a rally in Florida earlier this year, Trump joked that First Lady Melania Trump “hates” when he dances to what he called the “gay national anthem,” before adding, “We love that song.”
Like several other artists—including Aerosmith, Adele, Celine Dion, Elton John, Foo Fighters, and Guns N’ Roses—Village People had previously asked Trump not to use their music during campaign events. In a 2020 interview with BBC News, Victor Willis said that although the band financially benefited from the exposure, they had never endorsed Trump.
“We have even asked him to stop playing our music at his rallies,” Willis said, according to The Independent.
Following Willis’ death, however, Trump offered a different version of their relationship in a tribute posted on Truth Social.
“He was a great and happy guy who loved that I used his group’s song, YMCA, at my rallies,” Trump wrote.
Trump went on to claim that the song became a “monster” hit again decades after its original release because of its popularity at his rallies. He also said many artists wanted their music played after seeing the large crowds, but that “Victor and the group were there for us right from the beginning.”
“We will think of Victor every time YMCA is played, including today and throughout this July Fourth week,” Trump added. “My condolences to his wonderful family and the group. Victor Willis will be sorely missed. God bless him.”
Trump’s remarks have raised eyebrows, particularly because they appear to conflict with Willis’ earlier public statements about the campaign’s use of YMCA.
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