The Grammy Award-winning producer William Orbit, who worked with U2, Madonna, and many more, has died aged 69, his family and friends have announced.

The London-born musician died at home on 23 July, with his family saying in a statement posted to his Instagram page that he will be “greatly missed by us and by so many whose lives he touched”.

The statement read: “It is with profound sadness that the family and friends of William Orbit announce that William passed away at home on July 23 2026.

“We are deeply saddened by his passing. He will be greatly missed by us and by so many whose lives he touched through his music, friendship and kindness.

“We kindly ask that the privacy of William’s family and close friends is respected during this difficult time.”

Orbit, whose real name was William Wainwright, worked on the U2 songs The Hands That Built America and Electrical Storm.

Orbit produced Madonna’s 1998 album Ray of Light, which saw the American singer move into electronica and trip-hop.

He then worked with Madonna on her 1999 hit Beautiful Stranger and the 2000 album Music.

Ray of Light saw Orbit pick up two Grammys for Best Pop Album and Best Dance Recording.

He also won a Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media for Beautiful Stranger, which appeared in the 1999 film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

He was nominated for Grammys for his work on Pink’s song Feel Good Time, his own 2000 album Pieces in a Modern Style, and for Record of the Year for Ray of Light.

With Blur, Orbit produced the 1999 album 13, which saw the band take a darker lyrical turn and produce hit singles such as Tender, Coffee & TV, and No Distance Left to Run. He also worked on their track Sweet Song from 2003’s Think Tank album.

His other credits included the 2013 Britney Spears album Britney Jean, Nadine Coyle’s 2010 debut solo album Insatiable, and Melanie C’s 1999 debut solo album Northern Star.

Orbit had a solo career that produced 12 studio albums, largely of electronic music, and was also a member of the groups Bassomatic and Torch Song.

Source: Press Association