ABOUT DETROIT TECHNO
Though many people associate techno music with the dance floors of Europe, the futuristic dance music that became known as techno was actually pioneered in Detroit, where it’s still celebrated to this day. In the 1980s, three high school friends from Belleville, Michigan, began making music with the idea of combining the influence of electronic artists such as Kraftwerk and Giorgio Moroder and funk bands like Parliament and Prince. Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson were inspired by the music spun on Detroit’s late-night radio show The Midnight Funk Association by its DJ, Charles “The Electrifying Mojo” Johnson.The “Belleville Three,” as they would become known, began to DJ in the city, producing their own tracks and mixes. Recording in different combinations and under various guises and labels, an underground scene grew around the three and other pioneering acts, including Mad Mike Banks, Jeff Mills, and Eddie Fowlkes. With international success, the “Belleville Three,” branded their dance music as techno for the first time in 1988 in order to differentiate it from other styles, such as the Chicago house that was also popular in Europe. The name was representative of the industrial and futuristic sound they had created, which was heavily influenced by and reflective of their city. At the same time, the key players in Detroit techno opened a club, The Music Institute. Although it was short-lived, many of the club’s patrons would emerge as the second wave of Detroit techno in the early 1990s.
ABOUT BLAKE BAXTER
Blake is a Detroit native with a reputation for steamy, deep, whispering music productions. He was born in the soul and techno mecca Detroit, Michigan. Before, Blake got noticed worldwide for his electronic music sound he Dj’ed all forms of dance music from Hip Hop and R&B, Reggae, Dancehall, alternative rock. In addition, he also worked on his own productions in studios in Detroit and Chicago. Eventually, Blake was signed to Chicago City DJ international dance music record label. While Baxter was working at DJ International he was introduced to Kevin Saunderson, who had his own record label called KMS. Saunderson invited Baxter to create some music for compilation of first Detroit Techno songs. After his worked was released on the Album he took a tour to the UK and later began his journey making his own techno records in Detroit.
