British pop producer William Orbit has died at the age of 69, his family and friends confirmed in a statement14:29, 07 Aug 2026Updated 14:41, 07 Aug 2026Pop producer William Orbit - who had huge hits with the likes of Madonna and All Saints, has died at the age of 69.‌A statement on Instagram attributed to family and friends revealed that he died at home on 23 July. It said: "It is with profound sadness that the family and friends of William Orbit announce that William died at home on 23 July, 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,” the statement read. No cause of death was given.‌A prolific producer in his own right, Orbit - whose real name was William Wainwright - worked with a number of musicians including Madonna on her 1998 album, Ray of Light. He was also the man behind the chart-topping All Saints hit Pure Shores.Spice Girl Mel C, who worked with Orbit on her debut album Northern Star, was among the first to pay tribute to him, writing: “Such an honour to have worked with this great man. Sending all my love xxx”.‌DJ Ferry Corsten said: "William was a true visionary. I had the privilege of working with him on Barber's Adagio For Strings in 1999 - a moment that changed my career and opened many doors in electronic music. I'll always be grateful for his trust and inspiration. Rest in peace, William. Your music will live on forever."Singer Sonique, famous for her huge early Noughties hit Feels So Good, posted: "He was one of the first people I ever worked with. I am so sad to hear this. Sending all my love to his family. RIP my friend."Lights On singer Katy B said "what an amazing legacy and major loss" after the hearing the sad news and added: "I remember going to William's studio many years ago. I was so nervous but he was so warm and unassuming and genuinely curious about me and my music. I still remember how welcome I felt."‌Shaznay Lewis from All Saints simply posted a broken heart emoji. One fan wrote: "Pure Shores is playing in heaven now." Another said: "William. To the stars with you, genius, quicker than a Ray of Light," in reference to the work he did with Madonna.The Queen of Pop has previously said of Orbit: "William is a complete madman genius." She explained: "I'd come to him with an idea of where I wanted to go musically, hum melodies or read lyrics, and then leave him alone in the laboratory."Sometimes he'd go in the direction I wanted and sometimes he’d swerve off somewhere else entirely. We'd end up with trance tracks that were eight minutes long and then keep adding and subtracting until we had real verses and choruses. We really put our noses to the grindstone."Article continues belowFor more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads