William Orbit, the musician and producer behind era-defining hits for artists such as Madonna, Blur, and All Saints, has passed away at 69. Orbit, born William Mark Wainwright on December 15, 1956, was known for his distinctive sound, which blended leftfield dance influences with retro guitars.
His career highlights include co-producing Madonna's 1998 album 'Ray Of Light', which sold over 16 million copies worldwide. He also co-produced Blur's 1999 album '13' and created two singles for All Saints, 'Pure Shores' in 2000 and 'Black Coffee'.
Orbit's musical journey began in the early 1980s when he formed the synth-pop group Torch Song. He later founded Guerrilla Studios and co-founded Guerilla Records. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, he released ambient electronica albums under his own name.
Despite his success, Orbit faced mental health difficulties, revealing in 2021 that he had been sectioned the previous year after a drug-induced breakdown. He continued to take on assignments, including producing Katie Melua's 2010 album 'The House' and co-writing Britney Spears' 2013 song 'Alien'. He also reunited with Madonna for her 2012 album 'MDNA'.