Juan Atkins, widely recognized as one of the founding fathers of techno music and a co-founder of the influential electronic group Cybotron, has died at the age of 64. His agency, Greensmith Artists, confirmed the news on Instagram on Sunday, November 1. According to reports from Resident Advisor, Atkins was discovered unresponsive in his hotel room in Mexico City on Saturday, October 31, just before a scheduled performance at YuYu Cine Club. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. No cause of death has been reported.
Dragan Greensmith, founder of Greensmith Artists, stated that the family is currently navigating extremely difficult circumstances and requested that their privacy be respected during this time. Born in Detroit in 1962 and raised in nearby Belleville, Michigan, Atkins met fellow students Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. Together, they formed the Belleville Three, a trio widely credited as the architects of Detroit techno who helped establish the Motor City as a global hub for electronic music during the 1980s.
In 1980, Atkins partnered with producer Rik Davis to form Cybotron. The duo released their influential debut album, Enter, in 1983, which featured the seminal track "Clear." This meticulously crafted song, influenced by Afrika Bambaataa and Kraftwerk, later ranked No. 77 on Billboard's list of the 100 Best Dance Songs of All Time. The group parted ways in 1985.
Following the breakup of Cybotron, Atkins launched his own label, Metroplex, in 1985 and began releasing music under the alias Model 500. His first single under this name, "No UFO's," played a crucial role in bringing Detroit's developing techno sound to the U.K. This success laid the groundwork for the 1988 compilation Techno! The New Dance Sound of Detroit, which included Atkins' track "Techno Music." Over the following decades, he continued to release music under various aliases, including Infiniti and Audio Tech, as well as his own name.
Atkins also collaborated with German producer Moritz von Oswald as Borderland and reunited with May and Saunderson as the Belleville Three, performing globally throughout the 2010s. Upon hearing the news, Saunderson expressed his grief on Instagram, calling Atkins the originator of techno and a true visionary who opened doors for many in the scene. He recalled how Atkins guided him in finishing his first record, Triangle of Love, noting that their shared journey changed music forever.
Sources: Billboard.