Primary Wave Music has completed a deal with Villagers to control rights to the group's primary record and publish assets, as well as rights to their name and likeness. In what is described as a “collaboration” with the surviving Village People family, co-founder Henri Belolo — Jonathan and Anthony Belolo — Primary Wave will now take care of the group's “YMCA,” “Macho Man” and other hits.
Founded in 1977, the Village People were started by producer Jacques Morali and his partner Belolo, who were working with Broadway singer and actor Victor Willis to provide background vocals for a different musical project. Then Morali told Willis, “I had a dream about you singing lead vocals on an album I produced that got really, really big.” Following his instincts, Willis sang four tracks for Morali and Belolo (“San Francisco [You’ve Got Me]””In Hollywood [Everyone’s a Star]”, “Fire Island” and “Village People”). Quickly, the Village People project became a sensation with their songs climbing to the top of the charts, and Willis, Morali, Belolo formed it as an official group, adding to the team Felipe Rose, Alex Briley, Mark Mussler, David. Forrest, Lee Mouton and Peter Whitehead to complete its ranks.
Later, they added Randy Jones, Glenn Hughes and David Hondo to the cast after placing an ad in a trade paper that read: “Macho Guys Wanted for World Famous Disco Team”. Wearing stereotypically “macho” costumes – such as construction workers, bikers, cowboys and more – the group continued to define hits and became a symbol of the Disco era. To this day, the band continues, now consisting of Willis, Angel Morales, James Kwong, Chad Freeman, James Lee and James JJ Lippold.
“As we took up the mantle after the death of our father in 2019, we soon realized that – realizing his dreams of bringing the village people ideal into the 21st century in the right way is a very bold endeavour,” the Belolos say in a joint their effort. statement. “Our partnership with the amazing team at Primary Wave now brings us the backup and expertise that will ensure we can meet the mission together. With many projects in progress, the future looks as bright as ever for Village People!”
“The Village People have brought so much joy to listeners around the world for decades,” he says Lexi Todd, business and legal affairs representative at Primary Wave Music. “With disco-inspired music all over the charts today, now is the perfect time to launch our new collaboration. We look forward to working with Jonathan and Anthony to revitalize the Village People brand.”
