VILLAGE PEOPLE 1977-2010
Their 33rd Year!
Recipients of a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (6529 Hollywood Blvd between Liberace and Betty Grable!), the one-of-a-kind Village People is synonymous with dance music. These six talented men combine energetic choreography with outrageous fun and lots of bumping and grinding, singing and dancing, provide great entertainment for all ! Here's a short history of their career:
Over the past few years, Village People, the world's disco icons, performed a full schedule of fairs, festivals, universities, public concerts and casinos throughout the United States as well as Canada, Brazil, France, South Africa, Finland, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Romania and Poland. They were recently seen on Fox's "Wendy Williams Show, "NBC’s “Singing Bee” with Joey Fatone and in the new American Express TV commercial with Ellen Degeneres and Beyonce. The Guiness World Records book has just certified their Sun Bowl appearance on December 31, 2008 as the world's largest YMCA dance with over 40,000 fans "doing the YMCA moves" while the group performed.
First Decade:
Producer/Composer Jacques Morali, with partner Henri Belolo, found Felipe dancing in his Indian costume in a crowd in NY's Greenwich Village. Felipe's special visual attraction brought the idea to mind to put together a group of Village icons from various American social groups.
Soon after, Morali and Belolo saw Victor Willis in Broadway's The Wiz and Victor brought along Alex Briley to play a G.I. With partner Henri Belolo, Morali held auditions for 3 more performers and Village People was formed.
Selling more than 100 million recordings, Village People are an instant phenomenom with hits San Francisco/In Hollywood, Macho Man, YMCA, In the Navy, Go West and more. The Disco Era is in fullbloom.
Madonna and Joan Rivers are among artists who have appeared as opening acts for Village People in Las Vegas, Madison Square Garden, Japan's Budokan, Sydney's Hordern Pavilion, and Hollywood's Greek Theatre. Even Michael Jackson co-stars with Village People in LA's Palladium.
The group wins many worldwide awards including the American Music Award-Favorite Musical Group 1979, AGVA's Georgie Award, West Germany's Gold Lion Award for music excellence, Brazil's 1981 Award for Best Act, etc.
Village People star in their own 1980 major feature movie Can't Stop the Music co-starring Steve Guttenberg, Bruce Jenner, Valerie Perrine, Paul Sand, June Havoc, Tammy Grimes and directed by Nancy Walker. It remains a popular cult film around the world.
Village People are on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine and are featured in Guiness Book of Hits, Time, Playboy, Playgirl, GQ, US, People, Paris Match, World Book Encyclopedia, Dick Clark's 25 Years of Rock 'n Roll & hundreds more. Television appearances include The Love Boat, Bob Hope Show, 20/20 (twice), American Bandstand, Solid Gold, Soul Train, Midnight Special and dozens more in more than 20 countries.
The group takes a short break from the rigors of touring in 1986, during which time some of the members explored individual careers.
The Second Decade:
Village People regroup under the banner of Sixuvus ("six of us") Ltd., following an agreement with Can't Stop Productions (owner of the Village People name and characters trademark). Finally, their own bosses and with the help of a new management team, Village People has built an amazing success story of live performances worldwide, new young audiences, television and video appearances, and industry respect.
Of the originating and long-term members, Ray, David, Felipe, Jeff and Alex continued on. In 1995 Eric Anzalone replaced original member Glenn Hughes as the Biker/Leatherman. And for the record- NO, The Greaseman was never a member! End of discussion.
In 1990 on CBS Records(Australia) they recorded the top-ten hit Living in the Wildlife and in 1995 sang with the German Soccer Team on the BMG Records (Germany) number one hit Far Away in America. Village People wrote and now perform in their show a new classic entitled Trash Disco, a tribute to the many artists and dance hits which are now a memorable part of the disco era. Besides Trash Disco their live show also features new material like Take My Breath Away by David Hodo.
Their hits have been heard on dozens of recent major motion pictures including Down Periscope (the guys actually perform with the cast of Down Periscope as the credits roll during the film), Waynes World II, Adams Family Values and In and Out. They have performed many times on the Tonight Show w/Jay Leno, as well as the Rosie O'Donnell Show, Oprah, Married with Children, Good Morning America, the Caroline Rhea Show, Dick Clark's 50th Anniversary of American Bandstand, ABC's Disco Ball - 30th Anniversary of Disco, and numerous appearances on VH-1 & MTV. Besides dueling it out with The Disco Divas (Thelma Houston, Martha Wash, Freda Payne, Janice Marie, Evelyn "Champagne" King) on the gameshow Family Feud, one of their wildest experiences was filming a unique documentary sharing music and culture with Australia's aborigines entitled Village People Go North Down Under.
They were the half-time entertainment for Australia's Rugby Grand Finals seen by more people than the Superbowl. Their music is played during the seven inning stretch at dozens of baseball games and they often entertain sports fans with live performances following soccer and hockey games as well. In 1996 they were honored to be a part of the world champion Yankees ticker-tape parade in New York City.
They brought in 2003 as the special guests of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. Village People performed for the Osbournes and their guests on New Years' Eve following a ceremony where Ozzy and Sharon renewed their wedding vows. Village People have ventured into "reality TV" as cameras captured all of the happenings for MTV's The Osbournes.
In March of 2001, original member Glenn Hughes succumbed to lung cancer after a long fight. It was a devastating loss for the group as they lost a good friend and brother. Glenn was buried in his leathers as he had requested. It's hard to imagine Glenn at rest...I'm sure he's at a party somewhere. Heck, he's even dressed for it! God bless, Glenn, wherever you are...you are missed.
THE THIRD DECADE
In its third decade, Village People continue to tour the world with a high energy show performing their hits from the disco era (Go West, San Francisco/In Hollywood, Can’t Stop the Music, In the Navy, Macho Man, Hot Cop, YMCA and more) and original material like Trash Disco (utilizing over 45 dance favorites into one special performance number).
Recent TV appearances include Fox's "Wendy Williams Show", NBC’s “The Singing Bee”, Poland’s Sopot Festival and Italy’s RAI. Village People broke audience records at Disney World’s EPCOT in 2007.
The VP's celebrated their 30th anniversary with a full page ad in Billboard and this new website to stay in touch with their many fans and reach out to a new generation of Macho men and women. Their fans are actually getting younger as parents and grandparents bring their children to concerts to join the fun and dance and sing along.
For the final season before they tear down Yankee Stadium, Major League Baseball asked Village People to perform YMCA with the grounds crew at the All-Star Game on July 15, 2008. And in September 2008, Village People received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, between Liberace and Betty Grable!
On December 31, 2008, Village People and over 40,000 fans enter the Guiness World Record books with the largest crowd to ever do the YMCA dance. Village People lead the crowd in a joyous and exciting moment of history.
Their songs endure and their performing talents delight audiences all over the world. Village People in concert can make anyone smile and dance and sing along.
Village People Members
What People Are Saying?
They helped define a pop era, and they are back!
New York University
Still as sexy as ever. Audiences warmed to their enthusiasm, strong versatile vocals and choreography.
Village People have mainstream acceptance! The crowd lapped it up, singing along!
Exuberant- A wildly entertaining Performance!
Fabulous! Village People took the crowd by storm, singing live and performing brilliantly!