Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Talay Riley has been fatally stabbed in London at the age of 35, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Riley, born Mark Orabiyi, was found on the morning of June 5 in the garden of a residential property in Silvertown, East London, after emergency services responded to a distress call. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Metropolitan Police said an investigation is ongoing, with detectives treating the case as murder. Three people were initially arrested on suspicion of involvement. One man, aged 27, has since been released on bail, while a 24-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were released with no further action.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who is leading the investigation, described the incident as tragic and appealed for witnesses to come forward.
“Our investigation continues at pace,” she said. “We are particularly interested in anyone who was in the area and may have CCTV or footage from the morning of the incident.”
Born on July 10, 1990, in London, Riley began his career as a songwriter in 2009 and went on to work with major international artists including Usher, Nick Jonas, Dua Lipa, Chris Brown, and Iggy Azalea.
He co-wrote “Clumsy” for Britney Spears’ 2016 album Glory and “Last Dance” for Dua Lipa’s debut album the same year. He also earned a Grammy Award for writing “Lights On” by H.E.R., featured on her 2017 self-titled debut album.
As a solo artist, Riley had a UK hit in 2011 with “Make You Mine” and toured with acts including Skepta, Usher, and Trey Songz.
In a statement released through police, his family described him as “a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend,” adding that he “brought love, light, and joy” to those around him.
They also wrote on Instagram that Riley would be remembered for his talent and “his humour, generous spirit and unmistakable presence,” while thanking the public for support during what they called a devastating time.
Erizia Rubyjeana
