GLENN HUGHES Village People
GLENN HUGHES
18 July 1950 - 4 March 2001
VILLAGE PEOPLE
Glenn Hughes is an American singer who was known as ‘Leatherman’ in the music group Village People from 1977-1996. Hughes joined a music fraternity at Manhattan College in 1969.
He was interested in motorcycles and responded to an advertisement by Jacques Morali who was seeking ‘macho’ singers and dancers. He and the five other members were given a crash course in dance choreography for live performances. Hughes had a large moustache and wore a leather outfit and became an iconic figure in the disco era. He was named one of People magazine’s ‘Most Beautiful People’ in 1979.
Village People targeted the disco gay audience during the 1970’s. The group became popular with mainstream music listeners and had hits with Macho Man, In the Navy, and YMCA.
Unlike other members of the Village People, Hughes was straight. In 1996, he retired from the Village People and had a New York cabaret act at the end of his life.
Hughes was diagnosed with lung cancer; he had been a heavy smoker since he was a teenager. He died aged 50, in 2001. He was interred in his leatherman outfit.
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