Madonna has shared a tribute to the late producer William Orbit following his death at age 69. Orbit passed away at his home on 23 July. His family announced the news on Friday without specifying a cause of death.
Orbit is best known for his work on the 1998 album Ray of Light. This record blended electronic music with pop and trip-hop and earned three Grammy Awards. Many critics cite this project as a high point in the career of the singer. Madonna credits Orbit with helping her approach songwriting and vocal performance with new freedom during that time.
In her social media tribute, Madonna described the studio environment during their collaboration as church-like. She spoke about his ability to create sounds that allowed her to explore different creative directions. Their professional relationship extended beyond Ray of Light to include work on her 2000 album Music and tracks for the 2012 release MDNA.
Beyond his work with Madonna, Orbit maintained a career producing for various artists including Blur, Pink, and All Saints. His production style often incorporated ambient techno and atmospheric textures. Madonna noted that she felt lucky to have known him and to have worked together on their shared music.
The loss marks the end of a notable creative partnership. Orbit remains a significant figure in the electronic and pop music landscape of the 1990s and 2000s.