Above & Beyond pay emotional tribute to William Orbit: ‘A wonderful person and incredible musician’

16 August 2026
2 minutes · By Staff

Above & Beyond have shared an emotional tribute to William Orbit, the pioneering British producer who died earlier this month at 69. The tribute centres on a deeply personal thread that connects Above & Beyond's Tony McGuinness to Orbit's own musical journey. Before Above & Beyond ever existed, McGuinness worked as a marketing director at Warner Records. There, he crossed paths with the brilliant composer, and a firm friendship was formed.

William Orbit
Press

Tony and William later collaborated on Orbit‘s landmark 1996 studio album ‘Pieces in a Modern Style’. The lead single, an adaptation of Samuel Barber’s ‘Adagio For Strings’, went on to cement its place in dance history through Ferry Corsten‘s iconic remix. In the years that followed, McGuinness pursued his own music with Above & Beyond. Meanwhile, Orbit shaped landmark albums for artists including Madonna and Blur.

However, the two never lost touch. Orbit remained a mentor figure through Anjunabeats‘ early days. Then in 2022, their paths crossed once more. He delivered a stunning remix of Above & Beyond‘s ‘Sun In Your Eyes’. That collaboration now stands as the emotional centrepiece of the group’s tribute post. Notably, they described Orbit as “a wonderful person and incredible musician that will be dearly missed.”

The tribute follows an outpouring of emotion across the dance world. Recently, Madonna paid her own tribute, calling Orbit her “Ray of Light” and honouring the album that redefined her sound. Beyond that, Orbit‘s influence continues to ripple through modern electronic music. Above & Beyond‘s ‘Sun In Your Eyes (William Orbit Remix)’ is streaming now on Anjunabeats.

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