Grammy-Winning Songwriter Talay Riley Killed In London Stabbing
A British-Nigerian singer and songwriter, Talay Riley, has died after being stabbed in East London, prompting police to open a murder investigation.
Riley, whose real name was Mark Yinka Orabiyi, was attacked at about 9am on Friday, June 5, on Pankhurst Avenue in Silvertown, according to local outlet Newham Recorder. Metropolitan Police were called to the scene, where he was found with stab wounds in the garden of a residential property. Emergency services responded but were unable to save the 35-year-old musician, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Homicide detectives from the Specialist Crime Command have launched an investigation into the killing. The incident has been widely reported as a double stabbing, with a second man also found at the scene suffering stab injuries and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening wounds. Three people were initially arrested on suspicion of murder, two of whom were later released.
His family confirmed his death in a statement, describing the loss as one of “overwhelming sadness.”
“It is with overwhelming sadness that we confirm that Mark ‘Yinka’ Orabiyi, professionally known as Talay Riley, passed away yesterday morning,” the family said. They described him as a Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum-selling songwriter and artist whose humour, generosity and presence would be deeply missed by loved ones.
The family also thanked members of the public for their support. “We are deeply grateful for the enormous outpouring of love and support that we have received through messages, calls and visits over the past hours,” the statement added.
Riley, the brother of music producer Scribz Riley, built a career spanning more than a decade in the R&B industry. He secured a publishing deal with Global Publishing at the age of 18 and later signed with Jive/Sony Records after featuring on rapper Chipmunk’s 2009 single. His songwriting credits ranged from Chip’s chart-topping hits to songs recorded by Dua Lipa, Khalid and H.E.R.
In an emotional Instagram post, Scribz described his brother as a mentor, inspiration and “a light in so many people’s lives,” saying his heart was “shattered” by the loss.
“My heart is shattered! This doesn’t feel real. It feels like a bad dream. Just before he went to sleep we spoke about the future, staying positive and about everything we still had left to do. I never imagined that would be our last conversation,” Scribz wrote.
“Yinka wasn’t just my brother. He was my mother’s son, a friend to many, a mentor, an inspiration, and a light in so many people’s lives. He had one of the purest hearts I’ve ever known. He loved deeply, gave freely, and touched countless people through his talent, kindness, and spirit,” he added.
He continued, “The outpouring of love already shows how many lives he impacted. You inspired so many people and your legacy will continue to live on through your music, your family, your friends, and everyone blessed enough to have known you.”
Among those who paid tribute were rapper Stormzy and singer Craig David, who worked with Riley on his 2018 album, The Time Is Now.