Juan Atkins has died. He helped invent techno music.

The Boston Globe · Alex Williams · 2026-11-05 22:25 UTC

A godfather of techno music (and an originator of that name), Mr. Atkins emerged from the soul and funk factory of Detroit to mint a pulsating form of electronic dance music.

Juan Atkins, a godfather of techno music (and an originator of that name) who emerged from the soul and funk factory of Detroit to mint a pulsating form of electronic dance music that sounded icy and sizzling at the same time, was found dead Saturday in Mexico City. He was 64.

His talent agents, Greensmith Artists, confirmed the death on social media but did not cite a cause. A family representative said he died in his hotel room before a performance.

Although Mr. Atkins, a DJ and producer, never cracked the Billboard charts, he recorded groundbreaking electronic hits that became dance-floor anthems. In the techno world, his influence was beyond dispute.

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