william is the stage name of William R. Badarou, a French-Beninese musician and producer known for his work in electronic, synthpop, and world music contexts. Active from the late 1970s and particularly prominent in the 1980s and beyond, he built a reputation as a keyboardist, composer, and studio collaborator, contributing distinctive synthesizer textures and arrangements to his own recordings and to projects by other artists. His solo work and session contributions blend electronic synthesis with melodic sensibilities and elements drawn from African and Caribbean musical traditions, characterized by polished production, atmospheric keyboards, and an emphasis on rhythmic nuance. He is recognized in music circles for his role in shaping hybrid electronic-world sounds during his period of activity.