William Orbit, Grammy-winning producer for Madonna and Britney Spears, dies at 69

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—Grammy Award-winning British musician and producer William Orbit, who worked with artists including Madonna, Britney Spears and U2, has died aged 69, his family and friends said on Friday. The London-born musician, who won two of his three Grammys for production work on Madonna's 1998 album "Ray Of Light", died at home on July 23, according to their statement posted on his Instagram page. "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," it stated. As well as helping Madonna move into electronica and trip-hop with the 1998 hit album, Orbit also worked with the US star on 2000's "Music" as well as co-writing and performing on her 1999 single Beautiful Stranger. The track -- which appeared in the film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me -- earned him another Grammy for best song written for visual media. Orbit was also nominated for Grammys for his work on Pink's song Feel Good Time, his own 2000 album Pieces In A Modern Style and for record of the year for Ray Of Light. He also produced for Britpop band Blur, girl group All Saints and Spice Girls member Mel C. She paid tribute to Orbit on Instagram, posting that it was "such an honour to have worked with this great man". Orbit also worked with Britney Spears and Will.i.am on the 2013 album "Britney Jean" and produced two songs that featured on U2's compilation The Best Of 1990–2000. He had a solo career which produced 12 studio albums, largely electronic music, and was also a member of the groups Bassomatic and Torch Song.

William Orbit has died at the age of 69(Picture: Getty) William Orbit, a musician and producer who worked with Britney Spears and Madonna, has died at the age of 69. His family released a statement reading: ‘It is with profound sadness that the family and friends of William Orbit announce that William died at home on 23rd July 2026. ‘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.’  He was nominated for seven Grammy Awards, winning three for his work with Madonna. The musician, who was born in Enfield on December 15, 1956, produced music for a huge variety of artists, including Prince, Pink, Robbie Williams, Queen, Kraftwerk, and the Sugababes. https://www.instagram.com/p/DbvPBoeDCAz/ He’s most strongly associated with Madonna, having produced her albums Ray of Light (1998), Music (2000), and MDNA (2012). The four months she spent on Ray of Light was reportedly the longest Madonna had ever spent recording an album. It reached number two in the charts. Orbit’s vocals can be heard on Beautiful Stranger, a song that appeared in an Austin Powers film, which he also co-wrote. He worked with numerous stars over his long career (Picture: Victor Fraile/Getty Images) Speaking about Madonna in March, ahead of her release of Confessions II, he said he had written a follow-up to Ray of Light but had heard nothing back from Madge. ‘Look, why don’t I just lay it out, cos I get asked constantly,’ he wrote on social media. ‘I have an album ready that imho is indeed the successor.’ He continued: ‘I reached out. And there has been heard. Nil response. A week later. I speak with many close to her, including fam, but have not had a single syllable back in over two decades.’ Orbit said he wasn’t trying to ‘ignite a firestorm of speculation’ and they were still ‘pals’, adding: ‘In my life and art now I’m finally where I want to be and the very opposite of bitter.’ ‘I will always love that woman. For real. She made my career,’ he said of Madonna. The last songs he is credited as producing were for All Saints in 2018, working on two tracks for their Testament album. Before that, Orbit had worked on Queen Forever and Spears’ 2014 album Britney Jean, co-writing and producing the track Alien. The song became the centre of controversy when a version was leaked with no pitch correction, but the producer came to her defence. ‘Whoever put this on the internet must have done so in a spirit of unkindness, but it can in no way detract from the fact that Britney is and always will be beyond stellar! She is magnificent! And that’s that,’ Orbit said. He sold over 200 million recordings in his life, having first started in the 1980s as a member of Torch Song, alongside Laurie Mayer and Grant Gilbert. Orbit sold over 200 million records and won three Grammys (Picture: Dave Hogan/Getty Images) He had teased he was writing a memoir (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images) The band was signed by The Police manager, Miles Copeland, setting up Guerilla Studios as part of their deal. Around the same time, Orbit also soundtracked Youngblood, a film starring Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze, as well as releasing music with Bassomatic. Bassomatic reached number nine on the UK singles chart in 1990 with Fascinating Rhythm. Orbit had shared on Instagram that he was writing a book, seemingly a memoir, but no formal announcement has been made. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source