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The Latest Breaking News from Village People

Victor Willis Dies Aged 74: How Village People's 'YMCA' Star Embraced the Song's Unlikely Political Revival

Victor Willis, lead singer of Village People and co-writer of YMCA, has died aged 74 after illness, leaving behind a global disco and cultural legacy

International Business Times UK

Victor Willis obituary

Lead vocalist of Village People, the American disco group famed for their hits YMCA, In the Navy and Go West

The Guardian - UK

10 Photos of Victor Willis: Inside the Village People Star's Rise to Fame and Drug Addiction Battle

Victor Willis, co-founder of the Village People, passed away at 74. His life was marked by disco fame and a public battle with cocaine addiction.

International Business Times UK

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Was Victor Willis Gay? Why the Question Is Trending Following 'YMCA' Co-Writer's Death at 74

Victor Willis, lead singer of Village People, passed away at 74. Known for hits like 'Y.M.C.A.', his legacy transcends music, sparking discussions on LGBTQ+ culture and artistic intent.

International Business Times UK

From 'Glad He's Dead' to Self-Brags: Trump Sparks Outrage With Another 'Self-Absorbed' Death Tribute

Donald Trump has sparked criticism with a death tribute to Village People singer Victor Willis that quickly turned into a boast about his rallies and his role in reviving Y.M.C.A..

International Business Times UK

How Did Victor Willis Die? Cause of Death, Net Worth and Career Highlights

Victor Willis, the Village People frontman and co-writer of Y.M.C.A., has died aged 74 after a short but aggressive illness. His family and band have asked for privacy.

International Business Times UK

Village People co-founder Victor Willis dies at 74

Victor Willis, the lead singer of the disco group Village People whose hit Y.M.C.A. became a gay anthem and a fixture at rallies for Donald Trump, has died, his spouse said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. He was 74.

Bangkok Post

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Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote 'Y.M.C.A.,' dies at 74

Victor Willis, who co-founded the Village People and co-wrote some of the disco group's biggest hits, including “Y

The Independent UK

Donald Trump pays tribute to dead Village People star Victor Willis while boasting he made YMCA a 'monster hit' again

President Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to remember the late Village People singer Victor Willis, whose band's song Y.M.C.A. soundtracked his political rallies.

BANG Premier

Victor Willis, frontman of Village People, dies age 74

The co-writer of enduring hits such as YMCA and Macho Man, who struggled with drug use and legal issues for years, passed away after ‘short but aggressive illness’

The Guardian - UK

Victor Willis death: How did Village People lead singer die? From 'Y.M.C.A.' hit to regular fixtures for Donald Trump rally, all about Texas-born music legend

Victor Willis cause of death: Village People name was long assumed to be a reference to Greenwich Village in New York, which was the center of the city's gay scene in the 1970s.

The Economic Times

Donald Trump praises late Village People singer for ‘monster’ YMCA rally anthem

IN FULL

The Independent UK

Donald Trump pays tribute to YMCA star who ‘loved’ song being played at rallies

Village People reneged on their initial request to block president’s usage of their music

The Independent UK

Victor Willis' wife shares 'profoundly sad' tribute as Village People star dies aged 74

The Texas-born musician was the co-writer of the disco band’s biggest hits including YMCA, In The Navy and Go West

Evening Standard

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France 24

Victor Willis, Village People frontman and 'Y.M.C.A' co-writer, dies aged 74

Victor Willis, the lead singer of disco group Village People died on Wednesday, said his spouse. He was 74. Willis co-wrote the hit "Y.M.C.A." and was initially against Donald Trump using the song for his campaign rallies but in January 2025 he surprised fans by performing the song, with its…

BANG Premier

The Village People's Victor Willis dies aged 74

Victor Willis - one of the founding members of The Village People, most famous for their track YMCA - passed away after a “short but aggressive illness”.

Euronews

Village People lead singer and 'Y.M.C.A.' co-writer Victor Willis dies aged 75

Willis was a founding member of Village People, whose hits include ‘Y.M.C.A.’, ‘Go West’ and ‘In The Navy’.

The Independent UK

Village People lead singer Victor Willis dies aged 75 after ‘short but aggressive’ illness

Willis co-wrote a number of the iconic band’s tracks, including “Y.M.C.A, “Go West” and “In The Navy”

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The Independent UK

Village People lead singer Victor Willis dies aged 75 after short illness

IN FULL

The Independent UK

All the World Cup draw 2026 performers as Heidi Klum to host star-studded event

The Village People and Robbie Williams are on the lineup for today’s event in Washington DC

The Guardian - AU

Five Great Reads: the contested history of YMCA, a week without texting, and has the world reached a turning point?

Guardian Australia’s weekend wrap of essential reads from the past seven days, selected by Kris Swales

The Conversation

From YMCA to MAGA: why Trump plays Village People at his rallies

It was a bizarre sight watching a huge gay 1970s disco hit being performed at Donald Trump’s 2025 pre-inauguration rally. Many prominent artists from Beyoncé to Bruce Springsteen prohibit Trump from using their music. So why do Village People – a band synonymous with the 1970s gay liberation movement –…

The Guardian - US

From gay clubs to Maga anthem: the absurd, contested history of the Village People’s YMCA

A barely recognizable version of the band performed the 1978 classic at Donald Trump’s inauguration, the latest chapter in a strange tale of disco, feuds and showboating

The Guardian - AU

‘This isn’t politics’: Nelly defends decision to perform at Trump inauguration ball after backlash

Rapper says he is honoured to perform for the US president after he and other acts, including Village People and Billy Ray Cyrus, faced criticism

The Independent UK

Village People once tried to stop Trump using their music. Now they’re dancing on stage with him

‘Y.M.C.A’ has played at countless Trump rallies throughout his political career

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