JUAN ATKINS, THE REIGNING GODFATHER OF TECHNO. FROM ALLEYS OF YOUR MIND UNTIL THIS DAY, HE REIGNS.
From Alleys of Your Mind to Global Domination: Juan Atkins' Techno Reign
Discover the Journey of Juan Atkins: The Undisputed Godfather of Techno
How Juan Atkins Revolutionized Music: The Reign of Techno's Godfather
Juan Atkins
Juan Atkins (born September 12, 1962),[1] also known as Model 500 and Infiniti,[3] is an American record producer and DJ[4] from Detroit, Michigan.[5] Mixmag has described him as "the original pioneer of Detroit techno."[2] He has been a member of The Belleville Three,[6] Cybotron,[7] and Borderland.[8]
Juan Atkins

Atkins performing as Model 500 at DEMF in 2007.
Background informationAlso known as
Model 500
Infiniti
BornSeptember 12, 1962 (age 60)[1]
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.GenresDetroit techno[2]Occupation(s)
Record producer
DJ
Years active1980–presentLabels
Metroplex
Om
Early lifeEdit
Juan Atkins was born in Detroit, Michigan.[1] His father is a concert promoter.[9] At an early age, he played guitar and bass guitar in funk/garage bands with his friends.[9] After his parents split, he moved to Belleville, Michigan.[9] In junior high school, he met Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson.[10] The three would later be known as The Belleville Three.[10] At the age of 15, he bought his first synthesizer, a Korg MS-10.[5]
CareerEdit
Juan Atkins formed Cybotron with Richard Davis in 1980.[11] The duo's debut studio album, Enter, was released in 1983.[12] Atkins and Davis split ways in 1985.[13]
In 1985, Atkins founded the record label Metroplex.[12] In that year, he started making solo records under the alias Model 500.[9] As Model 500, he released Deep Space in 1995,[14] Mind and Body in 1999,[14] and Digital Solutions in 2015.[14]
He is also one half of the duo Borderland along with Moritz von Oswald.[15] The duo released Borderland in 2013[16] and Transport in 2016.[16]
In 2015, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Metroplex, Juan Atkins collaborated with VAVA Eyewear.[17][18]
Style and influencesEdit
Juan Atkins has stated that George Clinton's bands Parliament and Funkadelic were important to his musical awakening.[5] He grew up listening to The Electrifying Mojo's radio shows.[5] He also acknowledged Kraftwerk as one of the influences on his music.[19] Mixmag has described him as "the original pioneer