Victor Willis, the primary vocalist and co-founder of the disco ensemble Village People, died on June 30, 2026, at the age of 74.

Disco 組合 Village People 的主唱兼共同創辦人 Victor Willis 於 2026 年 6 月 30 日逝世，享年 74 歲。

The subject's professional trajectory commenced in Texas, where he acquired foundational vocal training in a Baptist church, subsequently transitioning to Broadway. In 1977, in collaboration with Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo, Willis established the Village People. The group utilized hyper-masculine archetypes to target the LGBTQ demographic, with Willis portraying the police officer and naval officer. He co-authored several globally recognized compositions, including 'YMCA,' 'Macho Man,' and 'In the Navy.'

他的演藝生涯始於德州，他在浸理會教堂接受了基礎聲樂訓練，隨後轉向百老匯。1977 年，Willis 與 Jacques Morali 及 Henri Belolo 共同創立了 Village People。該團體利用極端陽剛的原型來吸引 LGBTQ 群體，Willis 在其中飾演警察與海軍軍官。他共同創作了數首全球知名的歌曲，包括《YMCA》、《Macho Man》以及《In the Navy》。

Following his departure from the group in 1980, Willis experienced a prolonged period of instability characterized by substance abuse and legal complications. These included a 1993 rape charge resulting in acquittal and subsequent arrests for cocaine and firearm possession. A 2006 court-mandated rehabilitation program facilitated his recovery. During this interval, his spouse, Karen Huff-Willis, provided critical professional and personal support, assisting in the recovery of solo recordings and the pursuit of intellectual property rights. A 2012 federal ruling subsequently granted Willis a 50% ownership stake in thirteen of the group's compositions.

在 1980 年離開團體後，Willis 經歷了長期的不穩定時期，其特徵為藥物濫用與法律糾紛。其中包括 1993 年的一項強姦指控（最終獲判無罪）以及隨後因持有古柯鹼與槍械而被捕。2006 年由法院強制執行的康復計畫促成了他的恢復。在此期間，他的配偶 Karen Huff-Willis 提供了關鍵的專業與個人支持，協助其找回獨唱錄音並追求知識產權。2012 年的一項聯邦裁決隨後授予 Willis 該團體 13 首作品的 50% 所有權。

Regarding political associations, Willis maintained a complex relationship with President Donald Trump. While he initially expressed ideological opposition and requested the cessation of the use of 'YMCA' at political rallies in 2020, he later acknowledged the financial benefits derived from such exposure. This rapprochement culminated in the group's performance at the president's second inauguration and associated rallies in January 2025. Concurrently, Willis contested the classification of 'YMCA' as a gay anthem, asserting that the composition was based on his personal experiences in urban neighborhoods, although he expressed neutrality toward its adoption by the LGBTQ community.

關於政治關聯，Willis 與總統川普維持著複雜的關係。雖然他最初表達了意識形態上的反對，並在 2020 年要求停止在政治集會中使用《YMCA》，但他隨後承認從 such 曝光中獲得了財務利益。這種關係緩和最終促使該團體於 2025 年 1 月在總統的第二次就職典禮及相關集會上演出。與此同時，Willis 質疑將《YMCA》歸類為同志之歌，堅稱該作品是基於他在城市社區的個人經驗，儘管他對 LGBTQ 社群採納此歌曲表示中立。

Victor Willis died following a brief but aggressive illness, leaving a legacy defined by disco innovation, personal recovery, and complex political intersections.

Victor Willis 在經歷一場短暫但激烈的疾病後逝世，留下了由 Disco 創新、個人康復以及複雜政治交織所定義的遺產。