Juan Atkins

Juan Atkins (born December 9, 1962) is an American musician. He is widely credited as the originator of techno music, sometimes known as Detroit Techno[?] since Atkins and techno co-creators Derrick May[?] and Kevin Saunderson[?] grew up in Detroit, Michigan.

Atkins has cited the radio show of Charles "Electrifyin' Mojo[?]" Johnson as a musical influence. Electrifyin' Mojo, a Detroit DJ, played an eclectic mix of music including Kraftwerk, Parliament and Prince. Atkins and friend Derrick May[?] created mix tracks for Electrifying Mojo to broadcast, then began to create original music.

At Washtenaw Community College, Atkins met Rick Davis[?], with whom he recorded under the name Cybotron[?]. Atkins coined the term techno to describe their music, taking as one inspiration the works of futurist and author Alvin Toffler, from whom he borrowed the terms "cybotron" and "metroplex".

The term "techno" has taken on a broader meaning, encompassing many kinds of electronic dance music. Atkins himself has used the term to describe earlier bands that made heavy use of synthesizers such as Kraftwerk.

Atkins began recording as Model 500[?] in 1985. He continues to produce his own and other musicians' records under the Metroplex Records label.

Discography

as Cybotron[?], with Rick Davis[?] (1981 - 1983)
- Alleys of Your Mind (1981), single
- Cosmic Cars (1982), single
- Clear (1982), single
- Enter (1983)
- Clear (1990), digitally remastered re-release of Clear

as Model 500[?] (1985 - present)
- No UFO's (1985), single
- Sonic Sunset[?] (1994)
- Deep Space[?] (1995)
- Body and Soul (1999)

as Infiniti (1991 - 1995)
- Skynet 1998

External Links

"The Roots of Techno", Wired Magazine Interview with Juan Atkins (http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/2.07/techno_pr.html)
Biography of Juan Atkins by John Bush (http://www.globaldarkness.com/articles/juan_atkins_model_500_cybotron_bio.htm)

Discography

See also

External Links