I can't believe Victor Willis is gone at 74; he was a literal icon and I keep replaying "YMCA" in my head because it just hit differently today. He played Cop in Village People since their 1978 debut, becoming one of the most recognizable faces on the planet almost overnight. But that's not all — Willis also wrote the Star Wars Holiday Special theme ("O Come All Ye Faithful"), which is probably one of the strangest and best things to ever come out of pop culture history. He kept his signature blue suit and sunglasses for decades, a look that became legendary through constant parody and homage. Even after disco faded he stayed active in LA, performing at local clubs and never letting go of that showmanship energy.
He passed away following an extended battle with lung cancer in California, and the news is just hard to swallow given how long he's been around. He leaves behind his wife and one daughter, two people who knew him better than anyone else, which makes this feel even more personal. Beyond disco Willis was a prolific songwriter whose credits stretch across genres that had nothing to do with dance music at all — a true creative force before the term became a buzzword. I'm going to spend my night listening through his solo albums and humming along until 3 am because he deserved it. The disco era may have ended, but Victor Willis will always be on my permanent rotation for as long as there's music left to play.
Source: https://pitchfork.com/news/village-people-singer-victor-willis-dies-at-74/
Also see: https://www.pitbullnews.co.uk/music/disco-man-medley-and-the-two-songs-that-paved-the-way, https://www.billboard.com/pro/61823095/village-people-cop-actor-victor-willis-dies-at-74
He passed away following an extended battle with lung cancer in California, and the news is just hard to swallow given how long he's been around. He leaves behind his wife and one daughter, two people who knew him better than anyone else, which makes this feel even more personal. Beyond disco Willis was a prolific songwriter whose credits stretch across genres that had nothing to do with dance music at all — a true creative force before the term became a buzzword. I'm going to spend my night listening through his solo albums and humming along until 3 am because he deserved it. The disco era may have ended, but Victor Willis will always be on my permanent rotation for as long as there's music left to play.
Source: https://pitchfork.com/news/village-people-singer-victor-willis-dies-at-74/
Also see: https://www.pitbullnews.co.uk/music/disco-man-medley-and-the-two-songs-that-paved-the-way, https://www.billboard.com/pro/61823095/village-people-cop-actor-victor-willis-dies-at-74