Victor Willis, the original lead singer and co-founder of disco group Village People and the unmistakable voice behind 'Y.M.C.A.', has died at the age of 74. His family announced that he passed away peacefully after 'a short but aggressive illness', bringing to a close a career that helped define the disco era through global hits including 'Y.M.C.A.', 'Macho Man', 'In the Navy' and 'Go West'.
Willis died on June 30, just one day before his 75th birthday. He is survived by his wife, Karen Huff-Willis, who frequently represented him in business matters and became one of his strongest advocates in the later years of his career. He also leaves behind a musical legacy that continues to resonate across generations. In the hours following news of his death, one question repeatedly surfaced online: was Victor Willis gay?
