Juan Atkins was the originator who introduced Detroit's Black youth to the creative possibilities of electronic music

Within the documentary’s oral history, Juan Atkins is consistently described as ‘the originator’ and the most influential figure for later Detroit producers. He had been making records before Kevin Saunderson and Derek May; he formed Cybotron with Rick Davis; his album track ‘Clear’ became an anthem across the city and internationally; he operated the Model 500 label; and critically, he acted as a mentor to Derek May during May’s formative years. Saunderson is described as ‘the elevator’ (reaching mass commercial success), May as ‘the innovator,’ and Atkins as the root catalyst.

Examples

Juan Atkins — Cybotron (with Rick Davis): ‘Alleys of Your Mind’ (1981), ‘Clear’ (1983); Model 500 label (est. 1985): ‘No UFOs’; described by Derek May as a mentor who ‘gave me the insight and the development and the confidence to make music.‘

Assessment

What specific roles did the documentary assign to Juan Atkins, Derek May, and Kevin Saunderson respectively? How did Atkins’s mentorship role differ from his musical output role?