Techno music pioneer Juan Atkins dies at 64
The Detroit producer was found unresponsive in his hotel room ahead of a scheduled performance in Mexico City and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Juan Atkins, a pioneering figure in the world of techno music, has passed away at the age of 64, according to his agency. The Detroit producer was discovered unresponsive in his hotel room prior to a scheduled show in Mexico City and was subsequently pronounced dead at a local hospital, as reported by Greensmith Artists, his agency.
Atkins' journey in music began in 1980 when he teamed up with Richard Davis to form Cybotron. Their collaboration culminated in the release of the groundbreaking track "Clear" in 1983, which is considered one of the seminal records of the techno genre. Born in 1962, Atkins was part of a trio of Detroit musicians known as the Belleville Three, alongside Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May, who are widely acknowledged as the genre's founders.
The trio's influence on the techno scene was profound, and Atkins played a pivotal role in popularizing the term "techno." This label was first introduced by Atkins himself in 1988 through his track "Techno Music," featured on the compilation album "Techno! The New Dance Sound of Detroit."
In a heartfelt tribute on Facebook, Atkins' longtime collaborator Kevin Saunderson paid homage to his late friend, describing him as "the originator of Techno, a true visionary who opened the door for so many of us, myself included."
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
