On the radio yesterday, they were talking about the history of Techno music in Detroit, as this weekend Detroit is hosting the annual Techno Music Fesitival. Unfortunately, I didn't hear the entire segment. I did get a chance to hear them talk to a gentleman that, if I'm not mistaken, was one of the founders to Detroit techno music, along with Derrick May and Juan Atkins. What's wierd is that I was born and raised in Detroit and was a teenager when techno was founded here, but I never knew it was called techno music and didn't know it started here. I knew all their songs by sound, but never knew who the artist was or even knew the names of the songs.

I did a google search and was finally able to put a name and artist to many of the techno songs I used to jam back in the day. And to think, I thought they were Chicago house songs.

Here are a few of the songs:

Derrick May - Strings of Life
Derrick May discusses Strings of Life
Cybotron - Clear This is the song Missy sampled on Lose Control
Channel One - Technicolor
Nude Photo

I'm missing the Electronic Music Festival right now.

GangstaFam said:

Don't feel bad.

PurpleCharm said:

Any track by Juan Atkins (AKA: Cybertron, Model 500, Techicolor) can also count as electro-funk.

GangstaFam said:

You?!? That might be the only rave worth going to.....if they can keep having the festival every year without the political controversies that's been taken place behind the scenes in previous years.

man, just came back from checking out Jeff Mills close out the festival. decent set but not on the level i saw earlier this year at Fifth Ave (Comerica Park) which was historic and insane. festival was cool this year. as a paid event, the demographics change quite a bit, if u know what i mean.

yo Purple Charm you remember The Wizard back in the day right, that's Jeff Mills. his mixes were "must hear radio". The other guy you probably heard them talking about was Kevin Saunderson of Inner City (Good Life & Big Fun). i feel you though, to us it was just "mix music". it took it going to Europe and being re-imported as Techno for it to really catch on in the states. sad. but i'm glad for the founding trio, they're STARS overseas and get top dollar for their DJ sets now.

Here's an audio documentary on Detroit deejay legend The Electrifying MOJO that aired on Michigan Radio in 2005. Good listen.

...
[Edited 5/29/07 20:08pm]

here's a great article on Jeff Mills (aka The Wizard) that also chronicles the rise of Techno.

http://metrotimes.com/edi...p?id=10535

datdude said:

The guy that I heard on the radio Saturday talked about how they had to go Europe due to the strangle hold that is placed on program directors. He said that Mojo was basically the only dj that would play their music. When they tried to approach other stations, they were told that they couldn't play it if it was not on the play list. That's one of the reasons that they ended up going to Europe. Seems like they are highly respected over their.

Did you attend the festival all 3 days or just yesterday?

Mara said:

Thanks Mara.

I miss Mojo.

datdude said:

Thanks!

I'm mad that I missed it this year,too bad it ain't free anymore but I know why

did anybody see Moodyman?

JazzyJ said:

Why isn't it free anymore?

for one the city is in debt and can no longer subsidize it

datdude said:

And second the people who help put the festival 2gether were losing funds/sponsors too.

this is the 2nd year in a row with Paxahau producing the festival and even with their reputation, they have not been able to lure sufficient sponsorship to keep it free.

PurpleCharm said:

NP. I never got a chance to hear MOJO on the airwaves way back when, but I always hear him talked up by folks in the D.