Victor Edward Willis is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He is best known as the original lead singer of the disco group Village People, of which he is a founding member. His persona is the Cop and Naval Officer. The son of a Baptist preacher, Willis developed his singing skills in his father's church. With training in acting and dance, he went to New York and joined the prestigious Negro Ensemble Company. He appeared in many musicals and plays, including the original Broadway production of The Wiz in 1976 and subsequently, the Australian production. Willis also had written and recorded several albums in the mid-1970s for independent labels and was eventually introduced to French disco producer Jacques Morali. Morali, who dubbed him the "young man with the big voice", approached Willis and said, "I had a dream that you sang lead vocals on my album and it went very, very big". 

July 1st, 1951 in Dallas (Age 73)