The group quickly became popular and moved into the mainstream, scoring several disco and dance hits internationally, including the hit singles ' Macho Man', ' In the Navy', ' Go West' and their biggest hit, ' Y.M.C.A.'. As of 2020, Victor Willis is the only original member of the group. The characters were a symbolic group of American masculinity and macho gay-fantasy personas.
The group's name refers to Manhattan's Greenwich Village, with its reputation as a gay neighborhood. The group was originally formed by French producers Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo and lead singer Victor Willis following the release of the debut album Village People, which targeted disco's large gay audience. Village People is an American disco group known for its on-stage costumes and suggestive lyrics in their music.
