Village People 'policeman' surgery

7:33pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

Former Village People lead singer Victor Willis is recovering from vocal cord surgery and has postponed his tour.

Willis, the band's original policeman, is resting in a San Diego hospital after surgery Monday to remove nodules from his vocal cords, spokeswoman Linda Smith said.

Willis sang lead and co-wrote lyrics to such Village People hits as "Y-M-C-A" and "Macho Man".

He developed hoarseness after several 2007 performances, forcing him to cancel European and Canadian concert dates this year.

He's expected to recover and reschedule the tour dates.

Willis left the group in 1980. In 2006, San Francisco police found cocaine in his car. He pleaded no contest to drug possession and served three years' probation.