Detroit Techno Pioneer Juan Atkins Dies at 64

Juan Atkins, the Detroit producer widely credited as the originator of techno, died on Saturday, October 31, at the age of 64. His Belleville Three collaborators Kevin Saunderson and Derrick May have now paid public tribute to the man they called a brother.

Atkins was found unresponsive in a hotel room in Mexico City on Saturday, ahead of a show scheduled for that night. He was later declared dead at the hospital. An official cause of death has not been revealed. According to the Detroit Free Press, Atkins had been battling health issues related to diabetes in recent years.

What did Kevin Saunderson say?

Saunderson, who met Atkins as a teenager in Belleville, Michigan, outside Detroit, addressed the loss directly on Instagram.

"Juan was the originator of Techno, a true visionary who opened the door for so many of us, myself included," Saunderson wrote. He recalled a specific act of generosity from their early years: "I'll never forget how he showed me how to finish my first record, Triangle of Love. That meant a lot to me then, and it still does today."

Saunderson closed his statement with gratitude and mourning. "We shared a journey that changed music forever, and I'll always be grateful for his friendship, guidance and everything he gave to our scene," he wrote. "My heart goes out to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, Juan."

What did Derrick May say?

May, the third member of the trio, alluded to Atkins's health in a short video shared on Instagram, though he did not give specifics. He described a musician who kept working through illness.

"He never complained. He never mentioned how sick he was, for years. He just went out and did his job the best way he could," May said. He then issued a direct call to the scene Atkins built: "Respect his legacy. Respect the effort. Respect the work. Respect the accomplishments."

Who were the Belleville Three?

Atkins, Saunderson, and May met as teenagers in Belleville, Michigan, a suburb outside Detroit. Together they are widely credited as the architects of Detroit techno, a sound that fused elements of early Chicago house with the electronic music being made by groups like Kraftwerk and Yellow Magic Orchestra. The trio eventually earned the honorific "the Belleville Three," a name that tied the genre's origin story to their hometown.

Atkins's role in that history was foundational. His death at 64 closes a chapter in the story of a genre that grew from suburban teenage friendships into a global musical movement.

What does this change for techno?

The tributes from Saunderson and May make clear that Atkins's legacy now passes to the generations he opened doors for. Saunderson called him "a true visionary who opened the door for so many of us." How the Detroit scene and its institutions mark that legacy, in the wake of a death still lacking an official cause, will define the months ahead.