Editing Detroit techno (section)

==The Belleville Three==
[[File:The Belleville Three at The Detroit Masonic Temple 2017 2.png|thumb|left|[[The Belleville Three]] performing at the [[Detroit Masonic Temple]] in 2017. From left to right: [[Juan Atkins]], [[Kevin Saunderson]], and [[Derrick May (musician)|Derrick May]]]]
The three individuals most closely associated with the birth of Detroit techno as a genre are [[Juan Atkins]], [[Kevin Saunderson]] and [[Derrick May (musician)|Derrick May]], also known as the "[[Belleville Three]]".<ref name=hanf>Hanf, Mathias Kilian. ''Detroit Techno: Transfer of the Soul through the Machine'' VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, 2010.</ref> The three, who were high school friends from [[Belleville, Michigan]], created electronic music tracks in their basement(s). Derrick May once described Detroit techno music as being a "complete mistake ... like [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]] and [[Kraftwerk]] caught in an elevator, with only a [[Music sequencer|sequencer]] to keep them company."<ref>{{cite web
  | title = Music Feature: Who Likes Techno? [2nd October 2007]
  | publisher = BBC Radio4
  | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/wholikestecno
  | access-date = 5 October 2007 }}</ref>

While attending [[Washtenaw Community College]], Atkins met [[Richard Davis (techno artist)|Rick Davis]] and formed [[Cybotron (American band)|Cybotron]] with him. Their first single "Alleys of Your Mind", recorded on their Deep Space label in 1981, sold 15,000 copies, and the success of two follow-up singles, "Cosmic Cars" and "Clear", led the California-based label Fantasy to sign the duo and release their album, ''Enter''. After Cybotron split due to creative differences, Atkins began recording as Model 500 on his own label, Metroplex, in 1985. His landmark single, "[[No UFO's]]", soon arrived. [[Eddie Fowlkes]], Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, and [[Robert Hood]] also recorded on Metroplex. May said that the suburban setting afforded a different setting in which to experience the music. "We perceived the music differently than you would if you encountered it in dance clubs. We'd sit back with the lights off and listen to records by [[Bootsy]] and [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]]. We never took it as just entertainment, we took it as a serious philosophy," recalls May.<ref name=reynolds>Reynolds, Simon. ''Generation Ecstasy: Into the World of Techno and Rave Culture'' Routledge, 1999.</ref>

The three teenage friends bonded while listening to an eclectic mix of music: [[Yellow Magic Orchestra]], [[Kraftwerk]], [[Bootsy Collins|Bootsy]], [[Parliament (band)|Parliament]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Depeche Mode]], and [[The B-52's]]. Juan Atkins was inspired to buy a [[synthesizer]] after hearing Parliament.<ref name=reynolds/> Atkins was also the first in the group to take up turntablism, teaching May and Saunderson how to [[DJ]].<ref name="Indeterminate">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thetechnocracy.net/techfiles/The%20beginning%20of%20Techno.doc|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20121209180905/http://www.thetechnocracy.net/techfiles/The%20beginning%20of%20Techno.doc|url-status=dead|title=The beginning of American Techno in the form of the Belleville Three|archive-date=9 December 2012|access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref>

Under the name Deep Space Soundworks, Atkins and May began to DJ on Detroit's party circuit. By 1981, Mojo was playing the record mixes recorded by the Belleville Three, who were also branching out to work with other musicians.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobeus.org/archives/juanatkins/default.htm|title=Juan Atkins|date=8 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508233438/http://www.mobeus.org/archives/juanatkins/default.htm |access-date=6 June 2022|archive-date=8 May 2008 }}</ref> The trio traveled to [[Chicago]] to investigate the [[house music]] scene there, particularly the Chicago DJs [[Ron Hardy]] and [[Frankie Knuckles]].<ref name="Indeterminate"/> House was a natural progression from disco music, so that the trio began to formulate the synthesis of this dance music with the mechanical sounds of groups like Kraftwerk, in a way that reflected post-industrialist Detroit. An obsession with the future and its machines is reflected in much of their music, because, according to Atkins, Detroit is the most advanced in the transition away from industrialism.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/RSX_r0u3uzE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20080117172825/http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=RSX_r0u3uzE Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSX_r0u3uzE%7CUniversal|title=Universal Techno Pt.1 – Juan Atkins & Derrick May|last=Jeeon|date=5 December 2007|via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Juan Atkins has been lauded as the "Godfather of Techno" (or "Originator"), while Derrick May is thought of as the "Innovator" and Kevin Saunderson is often referred to as the "Elevator"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://dancemusic.about.com/od/remixersproducers/a/JuanAtkinsInt.htm |title=Juan Atkins Interview - Godfather of Techno Interview |access-date=7 August 2008 |archive-date=15 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615003234/http://dancemusic.about.com/od/remixersproducers/a/JuanAtkinsInt.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2017/05/interview-derrick-may|title=Red Bull Music Academy|date=28 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528133538/http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2017/05/interview-derrick-may |access-date=6 June 2022|archive-date=28 May 2017 }}</ref>