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Village People are an American disco group known for their on-stage costumes portraying American cultural archetypes and their string of late 1970s hits. Formed in 1977 by producers Jacques Morali and Henri Belolo to target the gay disco scene, Village People became a global phenomenon. The group's concept centered around dressing members as hyper-masculine American stereotypes (Construction Worker, Indian Chief, Cowboy, etc.). They achieved massive success with anthems like 'Macho Man,' 'Y. M. C. A.,' 'In the Navy,' and 'Go West,' becoming synonymous with the disco era. Despite disco's decline, they remain iconic pop culture figures, continuously touring with evolving line-ups.

• The group's name originated from New York's Greenwich Village, known for its large gay population, reflecting their initial target audience.
• Their hits, especially 'Y.M.C.A.' and 'In the Navy,' became mainstream anthems despite (or because of) their overtly campy style and double entendres, often embraced ironically by groups like the US military and sports fans.
• Founding producer Jacques Morali reportedly conceived the group after seeing Felipe Rose (the original 'Indian') dancing in Native American attire in a gay disco.
• While Victor Willis (original 'Policeman') was the lead singer on many hits, the group frequently changed members; Ray Simpson (brother of Valerie Simpson) became the long-standing lead singer after Willis left.
• The US Navy actually considered using 'In the Navy' in a recruiting campaign but ultimately declined due to the group's flamboyant image; they did appear in a Navy training film.
• Despite disco's 'death' post-1979, Village People have toured almost continuously, adapting their show over decades with various members, though none of the original six remain active today.