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Victor Willis, Village People Lead Singer, Dies at 74 After Illness
How 3 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
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First reported by N12 · 2 hours ago
What happened
Victor Willis, lead singer and co-writer of Village People hits, died at 74 after a short illness. He was a key figure in the band's success and gay icon status. Willis overcame drug addiction, rejoined the band in 2017, and performed at Trump's 2025 inauguration.
- 01Victor Willis, Village People lead singer, died at 74 after a brief illness on June 30.
- 02He co-wrote and sang hits like "YMCA" and "Go West," helping the band's 1970s global success.
- 03Willis left the band in the 1980s and fought legal battles over song rights.
- 04He was married twice, including to actress Phylicia Rashad from 1978 to 1982.
- 05Willis struggled with drug addiction, arrested in 2006, and announced sobriety in 2007.
- 06He rejoined Village People in 2017 and performed at President Trump's 2025 inauguration.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
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