DJ Juan Atkins made music that did not yet exist. He called it techno

Juan Atkins, the American DJ and producer known as the 'godfather of techno', passed away unexpectedly at 64. He was a pioneer of the techno genre, which he named himself, drawing inspiration from funk, science fiction, and electronic music. Atkins began his musical journey in Detroit, where he formed the influential group Cybotron and later continued as Model 500. His track 'Clear' was groundbreaking and influenced many artists, including Missy Elliott. Despite his passing, Atkins remained active in music, recently performing at events like the Amsterdam Dance Event. His friends and collaborators remember him as a visionary who opened doors for many in the music industry.