William Orbit, the Grammy-winning producer who collaborated with Madonna on her hit Ray of Light album and worked with other such artists as Blur, No Doubt, U2 and Britney Spears, died July 23. He was 69.
His death was announced by family in a statement posted on Instagram. No cause of death was given.
“It is with profound sadness that the family and friends of William Orbit announce that William passed away at home on 23rd July 2026,” the statement reads. “We are deeply saddened by his passing. He will be greatly missed by us and by so many whose lives he touched through his music, friendship and kindness. We kindly ask that the privacy of William’s family and close friends is respected during this difficult time.”
A musician in his own right, Orbit enjoyed chart success in the U.K. with “Barber’s Adagio for Strings” (a 1999 trance-dance version of the classical piece remixed by Ferry Corsten) and, in 2003, “Feel Good Time,” a collaboration with Pink that appeared on the Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle soundtrack.
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Born William Mark Wainwright on December 15, 1956, in London’s East End, Orbit learned to play guitar as a teen, performing in and around London and Paris, eventually releasing electronic/ambient music as part of the trio Torch Song with musicians and friends Grant Gilbert and Laurie Mayer. Signed to IRS Records, Orbit soon began working as a producer as well as musician, and eventually was hired to work on the soundtrack to the Rob Lowe-Patrick Swayze hockey film Youngblood.
Orbit also began remixing music of other pop artists, including Madonna, who a decade later and long impressed with his work, would tap him to produce her 1998 album Ray of Light. Updating her sound with trip-hop beats and techno influences, the album became one of Madonna’s most successful, with multi-platinum sales and three Grammy wins.
The year after Ray of Light, Orbit produced Blur’s album 13, considered one of that band’s best efforts. With those successes under his belt, Orbit was an in-demand producer, working with Britney Spears, Robbie Williams, Chris Brown, Pink and No Doubt. He produced two new songs for U2’s compilation album The Best of 1990-2000: Electrical Storm.
Information on survivors was not immediately available
