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From: Detroit, USA
Style: Techno, Electro
Status: One of the most important, if not the most important pioneer of Techno
Essential Tracks: “Alleys of Your Mind” (1981, Deep Space Records) with Rick Davis under the moniker of Cybotron, “No Ufos” as Model 500 (1985, Metroplex)
Label: Metroplex
Facts: “Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson and especially Juan Atkins belong to the first wave of Detroit Techno. As they came from the suburb Belleville they were called “Belleville Three”. Juan Atkins is the original inventor of Techno: he combined the futuristic Electro-Hip Hop of the early 80s with the fast House-grooves of Chicago which were stigmatized as gay House-music in the Afro-American community of Detroit. While in Electro-Hip Hop Kraftwerk-samples were mainly used for their novelty-character, Atkins realized the full potential of an Afro-futuristic music.” (Alexis Waltz) He deejayed with Derrick May as Deep Space and formed the legendary Cybotron with Rick Davis. In 1985 he launched his own label Metroplex, on which his first single "No UFOs" became a groundbreaking hit in both Detroit and Chicago.
