The musical CV of William Orbit is one tracked by a stunning number of landmark works and collaborations. One of the highlights of that profile is, of course, his work with Madonna with 1998 album Ray Of Light being perhaps the most accomplished. But Orbit also made his mark via his Strange Cargo albums and dabbling in classical music for the Pieces in a Modern Style album. Orbit also chalked up associations with many high-profile acts during his life, including Kraftwerk, OMD, U2, Prince, Beth Orton, Blur, All Saints, Pink, Katie Melua and more.
A statement on his social media in August announced that sadly, Orbit had passed away at home in July.
Orbit was born William Mark Wainwright in 1956 and raised in Palmers Green, London. In 1971, aged 14, Orbit discovered his uncle’s tape recorder which opened up his appreciation of sound and music. “It seemed like the most incredible thing in the whole world,” he later recalled, “that you could take a sound… and retain it.” In 1980, Orbit teamed up with electronic musician Laurie Mayer and Grant Gilbert to form the electronic outfit Torch Song who recorded their music in a home-built studio in a squatted disused school in Notting Hill, nicknamed the Centro Iberico. Torch Song were a prolific group, although probably best known for 1983’s ‘Prepare to Energize’ which featured on the soundtrack to the film Bachelor Party.
Orbit was also part of Bassomatic, another group project which included vocalist Sharon Musgrave and rapper Steve Roberts (aka MC Inna Onestep) among others. Bassomatic’s biggest hit single was 1990’s ‘Fascinating Rhythm’ in 1990, which reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart.
Outside of those musical ventures, Orbit also released music under his own name which included 1987’s Orbit album, but which led to the Strange Cargo series of albums. His role as a producer and remixer also saw him in demand racking up credits with a wide variety of acts such as Robbie Williams, Nadine Coyle, Britney Spears, Beth Orton, Blur, All Saints, Katie Melua and Madonna.
One of Orbit’s most notable works was the classically-inspired album Pieces in a Modern Style. Originally released in 1995, the album featured Orbit’s electronic adaptations of classical music. The first single release from the album was ‘Barber’s Adagio for Strings’, and a remix of the track by Dutch DJ Ferry Corsten was hugely successful. The album reached No. 2 in the UK charts.
Orbit later reunited with Madonna, co-writing and performing with her on the song ‘Beautiful Stranger’ which featured in the Austin Powers movie, The Spy Who Shagged Me and charted at No. 2 in the UK. He also worked with her on 2000 album Music. Later, Orbit’s plans for Ray Of Light 2 drew a lot of attention, but although he confirmed that he had crafted material for the potential album, Madonna had not responded to the offer. Following his passing, she posted a statement praising Orbit and his work with her: “You pressed a magic button inside of me and I fell into a galaxy of unrealised dreams”.
In 2022, new album The Painter saw him working with Polly Scattergood, Katie Melua and Beth Orton among others.
William Orbit’s ability to move effortlessly between electronic music and dance music was just one of his talents. His distinctive dreamlike synth moods also became a trademark element of his musical work. His passing brings to an end a remarkable career, but also an impressive catalogue of music that will continue to be enjoyed by future generations.
