Eddie Fowlkes facts for kids

Eddie Fowlkes was born on December 24, 1962. He is a famous American DJ. He plays and creates techno and house music. Eddie was very important in starting the Detroit techno music style.

About Eddie Fowlkes

Eddie Fowlkes was born in Detroit, Michigan. This happened on December 24, 1962. When he was young, he went to a party with his sisters. There, he saw a DJ named Darryl Shannon mixing music. This made Eddie want to become a DJ too.

He asked for a mixer for Christmas. Soon after, in the late 1970s, he started DJing himself. Eddie joined a group of DJs called the Deep Space collective. This group included other famous DJs like Juan Atkins and Derrick May. Derrick May was also Eddie's roommate.

How Eddie DJed

In the 1980s, Eddie Fowlkes used special equipment. He would perform with three turntables and a mixer. He also used a "wah-wah pedal" for cool sound effects. Plus, he had two types of drum machines. These were the TR-808 and 909.

Another famous DJ, Kevin Saunderson, was inspired by Eddie. Kevin saw Eddie DJing at a party. This made Kevin want to join the Deep Space Crew. He also wanted to become a better DJ.

Making His Own Music

Eddie Fowlkes first loved just DJing. But then he heard a band called Cybotron play. This made him want to create his own music. He borrowed equipment from Juan Atkins.

For a few months, Eddie taught himself to play the keyboard. He also trained his ear to hear music better. While living with Derrick May, Eddie built a music studio. It was right in his bedroom.

First Songs

Eddie started working on his first song there. His first song came out in 1986. It was called "Goodbye Kiss." This song was released on Metroplex Records. It helped create the sound that became known as Detroit techno.

In 1991, Eddie released "Detroit Techno Soul." This song introduced the idea of "techno soul." He said Detroit had both house music fans and techno music fans. So, he combined the two styles. In 1993, he released The Birth of Technosoul. This album featured other artists like Moritz von Oswald.

His Own Record Labels

Eddie Fowlkes started his own record label in 1993. It was called City Boy Records. He also owns another label called Detroit Wax. This label is part of City Boy.

Eddie Fowlkes is a pioneer of techno music. His handprints are even set in cement. You can find them at the Detroit Historical Museum's Legends Plaza. This shows how important he is to music history.

See also

In Spanish: Eddie Fowlkes para niños