William Orbit, Madonna collaborator and Grammy-winning “Ray of Light” visionary, dies at 69
William Orbit, Madonna collaborator and Grammy-winning “Ray of Light” visionary, dies at 69
Joey NolfiFri, August 7, 2026 at 1:51 PM UTC
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Madonna; William OrbitCredit: James Devaney/GC Images; Dave Benett/GettyKey Points -
Madonna’s longtime collaborator William Orbit has died at 69.
The music producer and musician was a key creative force on Madonna’s 1998 album Ray of Light.
Orbit also remixed several Madonna songs over the years and returned to work with her on “Beautiful Stranger,” Music, and MDNA.
William Orbit, the British musician best known as Madonna’s frequent collaborator and Ray of Light album visionary, has died. He was 69.
Orbit’s family confirmed the Grammy-winning artist’s death on Friday with a statement posted on his Instagram, revealing that he died on July 23.
“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,” read the statement in part. “We kindly ask that the privacy of William’s family and close friends is respected during this difficult time.”
Born William Mark Wainwright, Orbit was hailed by Madonna in her 1998 MTV Video Music Awards acceptance speech as a “genius.” He first worked with the Queen of Pop on remixes for “Justify My Love” and “Erotica,” before partnering with the superstar to help helm her 1998 masterwork Ray of Light — including the title track.
Orbit worked with Madonna to carve out a unique, new-age sound for Ray of Light that incorporated elements of pop, world music, and electronica to complement the album’s themes of existentialism, spirituality, and philosophy.
Madonna again enlisted Orbit for her 1999 Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack single “Beautiful Stranger,” as well as her cover of “American Pie” from her 2000 rom-com The Next Best Thing.
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They also worked on a number of songs for Madonna’s 2000 album Music, including “Runaway Lover,” “Amazing,” and “Gone.”
Their final significant collaboration came on her 2012 MDNA album, for which Orbit worked on six songs.
Madonna’s ‘Ray of Light’ album coverCredit: Courtesy Warner Bros.
Orbit won three Grammys during his career, all for his work with Madonna: two for Ray of Light and one for “Beautiful Stranger.”
Outside of Madonna, Orbit collaborated with a number of other pop stars. He and Pink reached No. 3 on the United Kingdom chart with their Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle soundtrack song “Feel Good Time.” He also worked on songs for Ricky Martin, Blur, Melanie C, No Doubt, U2, Robbie Williams, and Britney Spears.
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Orbit also mounted a successful solo career in the United Kingdom, where his 1995 album Pieces in a Modern Style reached No. 2 on the region’s charts ranking.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
