# Juan Atkins Dies at 64, Co-Founder of Detroit Techno

> Detroit techno co-founder Juan Atkins dies at 64 after decades shaping electronic music.
- Title: Juan Atkins Dies at 64, Co-Founder of Detroit Techno
- Summary: Detroit techno co-founder Juan Atkins dies at 64 after decades shaping electronic music. Juan Atkins, co-founder of Detroit techno music, died at 64 after a…
- Keywords: juan atkins, detroit techno, cybotron, belleville three, borderland, techno music, detroit, music, culture, Juan, Atkins, Dies
- Source: Pitchfork — https://pitchfork.com/story/juan-atkins-co-founder-of-techno-music-dies-at-64
- Author: Nina Corcoran
- Published: 2026-11-01T15:49:25.191+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: juan atkins, detroit techno, cybotron, belleville three, borderland, techno music, detroit, music, culture
## Juan Atkins Dies
Juan Atkins, the lifelong producer and DJ who co-founded Detroit techno music, has died; Green Smith Artists confirmed his death.
## Last Performance
Atkins was slated to perform at Yu Yu Club in Mexico City last night (October 31). He was 64.
## Detroit Techno Pioneer
As a member of the Belleville Three, Cybotron, and Borderland, Atkins’ impact on electronic music is incalculable.
## Cybotron Breakthrough
By age 18, he formed Cybotron with Richard "3070" Davis. Their early singles redirected electronic music before dominating the dancefloor with "Clear" in 1983.
## Cybotron Success
The electro track "Clear" sold 50,000 copies and became a genre-defining composition, famously sampled by Missy Elliott.
## Later Career
Atkins released solo records under Model 500 and Infiniti, and collaborated with Moritz von Oswald as Borderland starting in 2013.
## Detroit Roots
Atkins was raised in Detroit by a father who worked as a concert promoter and played in funk and garage bands with friends.
## Legacy
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield honored Atkins, saying he "imagined what the music of the future could be" and built it over four decades.
## Key takeaway

Juan Atkins, co-founder of Detroit techno music, died at 64 after a career spanning four decades.