William Orbit, the British music producer best known for his work on Madonna's Grammy-winning album 'Ray of Light,' has died aged 69. His family announced the death in a statement posted on Instagram, giving no cause. The statement said he died on July 23.
Orbit was a key figure in electronic and pop music, helping to revive Madonna's career with the 1998 album 'Ray of Light.' He also worked on Blur's experimental album '13' and produced tracks for artists including U2, All Saints, No Doubt, Pink and Britney Spears. His collaborations extended to Prince and Beth Orton, as noted in a retrospective of his recordings.
Before his production career took off, Orbit had an early band called Torch Song, which blended pop with experimental sounds. Over the years, he became known for bringing dance-music elements into mainstream pop, earning wide acclaim.
His death was confirmed by his family, but further details were not immediately available.