‘You were my Ray of Light’: Madonna shares moving tribute to William Orbit after producer’s death at 69 (VIDEO)

NEW YORK, Aug 9 — Madonna has paid a heartfelt tribute to renowned producer William Orbit, recalling the impact he had on her career during her transformation in the late 1990s. Orbit, who co-created her iconic 1998 album Ray of Light, passed away on July 23 at the age of 69, his family confirmed, according to the BBC. No official cause of death has been disclosed.

In an emotional Instagram post, Madonna revealed their creative partnership, writing that Orbit "pressed a magic button inside me" and helped her "fall into a galaxy of unrealized dreams." The producer, whose real name was William Wainwright, played a significant role in Madonna's career, shifting her sound towards electronic, ambient, and trip-hop influences while maintaining her pop roots.

Their collaboration on Ray of Light became a critical and commercial success, earning her three Grammy Awards. Madonna credited Orbit with inspiring her to write and sing more freely, describing their studio sessions as "often church-like" and recounting how his unique approach to music-making left her "so lucky to have known you and fallen down the rabbit hole with you."