Juan Atkins, widely regarded as the founder of techno music, died aged 64 in Mexico City, various media outlets reported on Sunday evening. As later confirmed by the Detroit musician's agency, Atkins was found unresponsive in a hotel room ahead of a performance, and was later pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital.
A cause of death has not been confirmed.
As part of the 'Belleville Three' – alongside Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson – Atkins spearheaded the first wave of Detroit techno in the 1980s, coinging the term, which earned him the nickname 'Godfather of techno'. Commemorating his fellow pioneer, Derrick May posted a video, asking people to "respect [Atkins'] legacy, respect the effort, respect the work, respect the accomplishments".
In the video, May further says that Atkins "never mentioned how sick he was... for years".
