Madonna pays tribute to 'genius, otherworldly' producer William Orbit
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- William Orbit died at home on 23 July at age 69, his family announced on Friday, with no cause of death given.
- Madonna posted an Instagram tribute on Saturday, calling Orbit 'otherworldly' and crediting him with opening 'a galaxy of unrealised dreams' inside her.
- Ray of Light (1998), the album Orbit produced for Madonna, blended electronic dance music and ambient techno with pop and trip-hop and went on to win three Grammy Awards.
- Orbit also worked with Madonna on her 2000 album Music and produced several tracks for her 2012 album MDNA.
- Orbit's credits extended well beyond Madonna — the London-born producer collaborated with Blur, Pink, U2, All Saints, Robbie Williams, and Britney Spears.
- Madonna linked Orbit to her daughter Lola, writing that he was 'my Ray of Light,' since Lola was born around the time of the album.
Why it matters: The death of William Orbit at 69 closes a chapter in pop and electronic production. While Madonna's Ray of Light reinvention is the most-cited example, Orbit's credits also include Blur, U2, Britney Spears, and Pink — making his loss felt across a wide swath of late-'90s and 2000s pop, not just inside Madonna's catalog.
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