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  "path": "/celebrity/victor-willis-village-people-frontman-dead-aged-75-after-brief-illness-tributes",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-01T08:40:29.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nVictor Willis, the frontman and founding member of legendary disco act Village People, has passed away at the age of 75.\n\nThe singer died on Monday following a brief but severe illness, according to an announcement made through the band's official social media channels.\n\nMr Willis was instrumental in creating some of the most recognisable songs in popular music history, with the band achieving worldwide fame during the disco era.\n\nHis death marks the end of an era for fans who grew up dancing to the group's infectious anthems.\n\nThe Village People emerged in the late 1970s after Can't Stop Productions spotted Willis's talent and constructed the entire ensemble around him.\n\nHis position at the heart of the group proved essential to their remarkable commercial achievements.\n\nThe band's catalogue includes some of the most enduring tracks of the disco period, with \"Y.M.C.A\" becoming a cultural phenomenon that continues to fill dancefloors nearly five decades later.\n\nTheir other major hits, \"Go West\" and \"In The Navy\", similarly achieved global recognition and cemented the group's status as one of the defining acts of their generation.\n\n**More to follow...**\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Village People frontman Victor Willis dies aged 75 after brief illness as tributes pour in"
}