Madonna has shared a tribute to the late William Orbit, the producer who helped create her seminal album Ray of Light. Following the announcement of his death at age 69, the singer posted an emotional reflection on their time working together in the late 1990s.
In her statement, Madonna describes the initial meetings with Orbit as a life-altering experience. She notes that their collaboration allowed her to ignore traditional musical boundaries and genres to establish her own sound. She credits Orbit with helping her find a new way to vocalize and write lyrics that favored expression over standard structure.
She recalls the studio atmosphere as church-like and describes watching him work with a deep sense of respect. According to Madonna, Orbit served as a mentor who helped her enter a period of personal and professional change. She refers to him as a genius and notes that his influence remained with her long after their formal work together ended.
The pair famously won a Grammy for Best Pop Album for Ray of Light. Madonna accompanied her tribute with footage from the album’s music video and clips of the two accepting their award in 1999. She concludes her message by calling him singular and stating that she was fortunate to have known him.