R.I.P. William Orbit

News only came in over the weekend that legendary UK producer, electronic DJ, and musical artist William Orbit passed away at the age of 69 on July 23^rd, at his home in London, per a family statement on his website, and on Instagram. No further details are yet revealed.

Born William Wainwright on December 15, 1956, he was born the eldest of two sons to schoolteacher parents. As a teenager, he roomed with a friend who was trying to start a recording studio, and his calling was in place.

He formed an early group, Torch Song, and eventually caught the eye of IRS Records, who signed them to a deal that allowed the building of the studio they had always wanted, going on to record four albums and singles, including some soundtrack work there. He additionally dabbled in house music in the 1990s with his project, Bassomatic, recorded solo albums, like 1987’s Strange Cargo, and even created some classical works.

He had also collaborated and remixed the likes of Blur, Pink, All Saints, U2, Prince, Robbie Williams, and many others. But he’s best known for help reinvigorate Madonna’s career with her turn to electronica on the 1998 album, Ray of Light (following his remixes of her earlier hits, “Justify My Love” and “Erotica”) which would go on to win three Grammy Awards. Further collabs with Madge included her hit, “Beautiful Stranger” and six tracks on the MDNA album.

Madonna said, in part, “Goodbye- William Orbit. You pressed a magic button inside of me and I fell into a galaxy of unrealized dreams. Your music gave me a magic carpet to fly on and I visited many places. I was so lucky to have known you and fallen down the rabbit hole with you. “