British-Nigerian singer and songwriter Talay Riley, real name Mark Orabiyi, has been stabbed to death in east London.
The 35-year-old artiste was found with fatal knife wounds on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown in the early hours of Friday, June 5, 2026. Metropolitan Police officers also discovered another man at the scene with multiple stab wounds. He was taken to hospital for treatment.
Three people, two men aged 27 and 24, and a 25-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of murder. The 27-year-old was later released on bail, while the other two were released with no further action.
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The late singer’s family released an emotional tribute to confirm his death and honour him
“It is with overwhelming sadness that we confirm that Mark ‘Yinka’ Orabiyi, professionally known as Talay Riley, passed away yesterday morning. Mark was a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend. He brought love, light, and joy to our family and to all who knew him. We will always cherish his kindness, beautiful spirit, and remarkable talent. His presence touched many lives, and his memory will remain in our hearts forever. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Talay Riley began his music career at 18 after signing a publishing deal with Global Publishing. He first gained wider attention featuring on Chipmunk’s 2009 single before signing with Jive/Sony Records. He went on to tour with artistes including Skepta, Usher, and Trey Songz, and collaborated with Kehlani, H.E.R., Khalid, and others.
As a Grammy award winning songwriter, he earned significant credits on major releases, including Dua Lipa’s “Last Dance”, Britney Spears’ “Clumsy”, and Zendaya’s “Close Up”. He also worked with Stormzy, Craig David, Chris Brown, and Khalid.