Singer Madonna has paid tribute to music producer William Orbit following the news of his death at his home on July 23 aged 69.
The family and friends of the Grammy-winning producer shared a statement on his social media on Friday announcing his death. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Madonna thanked the producer she called a genius for being an inspiration throughout her career following their work on her 1998 album Ray of Light.
Madonna shared a video clip of the pair winning their Grammy Award together alongside a lengthy written tribute to Orbit. She wrote: "Goodbye- William Orbit. I had an epiphany when I met you and started working with you."
She continued: "I realized that music did not have to fit into categories or genres. So we created our own. You pressed a magic button inside of me and I fell into a galaxy of unrealized dreams. Your music gave me a magic carpet to fly on and I visited many places. Sad and Joyful"
Madonna added: "I sang in ways I’d never sung before. I used words without caring if they made sense or not. In many ways you were my Ray of Light -as was my daughter Lola who was born around this time."
Reflecting on their time together in the recording studio, she wrote: "I was starting a new chapter, I was choosing another road to walk down-and you were right by my side with your crooked teeth and your genius, way of hearing music." She recalled that the studio was often church-like and she would sit in silence waiting for his ideas to explode from his keyboard or guitar.
Expressing her gratitude for his influence, Madonna penned: "I miss those days. Only you could inspire me to write a song like Drowned World or Swim. You were so otherworldly. So singular." She concluded her tribute: "The years passed and I moved on to make music with other people, but I have never forgotten you or the magical time we spent together. Goodbye Billy Bubbles. I was so lucky to have known you and fallen down the rabbit hole with you."
Family statement and cause of death
On Friday, Orbit's family and friends shared a statement on his social media confirming that he died at home on July 23, 2026. No cause of death was given in the announcement.
The statement read: "It is with profound sadness that the family and friends with 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."
The family added: "We kindly ask that the privacy of William's family and close friends is respected during this difficult time."
Major collaborations and music career
William Orbit sold more than 200 million recordings during his lifetime. Beyond Ray of Light, he worked on some of Madonna's most iconic hits, including Frozen and The Power Of Goodbye.
Orbit also collaborated with major international acts including Blur, U2, and All Saints. His final credited production work was for All Saints in 2018, when he worked on two tracks for their album Testament.
Before that, Orbit worked on Queen Forever and co-wrote and produced the track Alien for Britney Spears's 2013 album Britney Jean. He also collaborated with Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle on her 2010 solo album Insatiable.
In addition to producing for other artists, Orbit released multiple solo albums over the years, including his Strange Cargo series. His final solo studio album, titled The Painter, was released in 2022.
Orbit began his music career in the 1980s as a member of the electronic group Torch Song, alongside Laurie Mayer and Grant Gilbert. In an interview with The Talks, Orbit said: "Honestly, I regard the whole of life as one giant improv session! Simple as that. But at the time of making a song, none of us actually have that clarity to worry about how we'll look back at it. So the time is always of the moment. For me, looking back now, I'm happy with most of it."
Tributes from music industry peers
Following the news of Orbit's death, tributes poured in from across the music industry. Singer Sonique wrote: "He was one of the first people I ever worked with. I am so sad to hear this. Sending all my love to his family. RIP my friend."
DJ Abel posted: "William, no. Rest in peace friend x." Spice Girl Melanie C, who teamed up with Orbit on her debut solo album Northern Star, wrote: "Such an honour to have worked with this great man. Sending all my love xxx."
Producer Darren Emerson shared: "Oh no. Absolutely gutted to hear this. I'll always remember our long phone conversations we used to have back in the day. It was a pleasure to work with one of the best producers I've known You will be sadly missed mate and your music will always shine bright. Thanks for everything you gave us RIP William."
Producer Erol Alkan called Orbit an "incredible producer" who made many records he loved, while DJ Fat Tony wrote: "This really hurts goodbye you amazing man what an incredible career such a loss big love and condolences to your entire family x."
All Saints star Nicole Appleton wrote: "So very sad today to hear about the passing of the wonderful William Orbit. I absolutely love the music he made with Madonna and felt so lucky when he worked with All Saints."
Appleton continued: "We were fortunate enough to work with him on many occasions and on many songs. In the studio, he made me feel so confident, comfortable and always brought the best out in me. He was a treasure in the music industry and we had the most amazing times in the studio and socially. We will forever celebrate him as a music icon. Sending love to all his friends and family x"
Unreleased project and studio working methods
In March 2026, Orbit revealed on Facebook that he had written an album intended as a successor to Ray of Light, but admitted the project was "not going to happen" because he had received no response from Madonna.
Orbit wrote: "I have an album ready that imho is indeed the successor to Ray Of Light. Everything about how it was made and how it sounds yells that from the first few bars." He added: "And 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 clarified that he felt "zero zero absolute zero hard feelings" and was not bitter. He added: "Are you kidding, I will always love that woman. For real. She made my career." He also joked that he had "transitioned now to a man for whom Fs are no longer on offer - zero f***s for the music biz".
In a previous interview, Madonna described Orbit as a "complete madman genius." Speaking to The Guardian, she said: "I'd come to him with an idea of where I wanted to go musically, hum melodies or read lyrics, and then leave him alone in the laboratory. Sometimes he'd go in the direction I wanted and sometimes he'd swerve off somewhere else entirely. We'd end up with trance tracks that were eight minutes long and then keep adding and subtracting until we had real verses and choruses. We really put our noses to the grindstone."
Early life and personal health struggles
In 2021, Orbit spoke to The Guardian about his past struggles with substance use four years earlier in 2017. He disclosed that heavy use of marijuana, LSD, mushrooms, MDMA, cocaine, codeine, and hormones led to a psychotic episode and being sectioned.
Orbit recalled: "Fortunately, once the drugs were out of my system, I finally got back to being normal - and out I was." He noted that he had not been fully aware of what he was doing during that period before recovering.
Born William Wainwright in 1956, Orbit was raised in north London by parents who were both teachers. He left school at 16 and worked various low-paying jobs for several years before finding his musical calling while living with a friend who was starting a recording studio, leading to the formation of Torch Song in 1980.
