William Orbit, the British music producer who won Grammys for his work with Madonna, has died. He was 69.
Orbit’s family and friends released a statement on social media Friday, saying that he died at home on July 23. “He will be greatly missed by us and by so many whose lives he touched through his music, friendship and kindness,” they wrote. No cause of death was given.
Born in December 1956 as William Wainwright, Orbit grew up in London and left school aged 16 to pursue music.
His biggest career achievement came through teaming up with Madonna. He was a producer on the U.S. singer’s 1998 album Ray of Light, which would go on to win four Grammys, including for best pop album. In 2000, Orbit continued working for Madonna on her album Music, recorded at The Hit Factory in New York. He also co-wrote and performed with her on the song “Beautiful Stranger,” which won best song written for visual media at the Grammy Awards.
In 2011, Orbit contributed to Madonna’s twelfth studio album MDNA, released in March 2012. He is credited as a co-producer on six of the tracks, including “Masterpiece,” which won a Golden Globe for best original song in Miramax’s 2011 W.E., directed and written by the Queen of Pop.
Such was his success with Madonna — particularly on Ray of Light, widely considered one of her best albums — that he was courted by a slew of other pop artists, and would later work with the likes of Britney Spears (on Britney Jean), Robbie Williams (Rudebox), Nadine Coyle (Insatiable) and Chris Brown (Fortune). For his feature credit on Pink’s “Feel Good Time,” the lead single from the soundtrack of Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (2003), Orbit was nominated for another Grammy.
Orbit also produced the album 13 by Britpop band Blur, a record that chronicled Damon Albarn’s breakup with fellow musician Justine Frischmann (of Suede and Elastica fame). The band’s frontman described Orbit’s role in producing the album as “a psychiatrist”; among 13‘s biggest songs are “Tender,” “Coffee & TV,” and “No Distance Left to Run.”
The producer also worked on All Saints’ 2018 album Testament and U2’s second greatest hits album.
