UMVA has learned that Talay Riley, a talented singer-songwriter, has tragically died at the age of 35 after being stabbed in east London.
The Metropolitan Police were called to an address in Silvertown at 9am on Friday, where they found Riley, whose real name was Mark Orabiyi, in the garden of a Rayleigh Road property with stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and formal identification is yet to take place.
Riley's family has paid a heartfelt tribute to him, describing him as 'a beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend' who brought love, light, and joy to those around him. They will always cherish his kindness, beautiful spirit, and remarkable talent.
A man in his 20s was also taken to hospital with multiple stab wounds and is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Three people were arrested on suspicion of murder on Friday, with a 27-year-old man released on bail pending further enquiries.
Riley had an impressive career in music, co-writing hits like Chipmunk's 2009 song Oopsy Daisy and working with top artists such as Skepta, Usher, and Trey Songz. He had an extensive list of songwriting credits, spanning the 2010s, and had 76,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
The music industry has come together to pay tribute to Riley, with Stormzy, Craig David, and Rochelle Humes sharing heartfelt messages. Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke has urged anyone with information or footage from the incident to come forward and assist the investigation.
Riley's legacy will live on through his music, and his family and loved ones will cherish the memories of his life. The investigation into his death continues, and anyone with information can contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously.
