MUSIC LEGEND

Grammy Winner Behind Madonna Hits Dies at 69

William Orbit wrote and produced the pop legend’s acclaimed album “Ray of Light.”

Grammy Award-winning music producer William Orbit, who worked with Madonna, U,2 and Britney Spears, has died at the age of 69. The British producer’s death was announced in a statement attributed to family and friends, although no cause of death was given. “He will be greatly missed by us and by so many whose lives he touched through his music, friendship and kindness,” the statement read. During his decades-long career, Orbit also released multiple solo albums and singles, such as an EDM version of “Barber’s Adagio for Strings,” which was a hit in the U.K. and Europe in 1999. Orbit is perhaps best known for the work he did with Madonna, including writing and producing her critically acclaimed 1998 album Ray of Light. The album won Album of the Year and Best Pop album at the 1999 Grammy Awards. The following year, the pair also won the Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Beautiful Stranger,” for the soundtrack to the Austin Powers sequel. British musician and DJ Fatboy Slim was one of those who paid tribute to Orbit. “Rest in peace, my friend,” he wrote. “You were a trailblazer and a gentleman. We owe you a debt of gratitude.”