Eddie Fowlkes facts for kids

Eddie Fowlkes was born on December 24, 1962. He is an American DJ who plays techno and house music. He was very important in the early days of Detroit techno music.

Who is Eddie Fowlkes?

Eddie Fowlkes was born in Detroit, Michigan. When he was 15, he went to a party with his older sisters. There, he saw a DJ named Darryl Shannon mixing records. This made Eddie want to become a DJ too!

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

In the 1980s, Eddie used three turntables when he performed. He also used a mixer and special sound effects pedals. He even used drum machines like the Roland TR-808 and TR-909. These machines help make electronic drum sounds.

Another famous DJ, Kevin Saunderson, said that watching Eddie DJ inspired him. Kevin wanted to join the Deep Space Crew and become a better DJ because of Eddie.

Making His Own Music

After hearing a group called Cybotron perform, Eddie wanted to do more than just DJ. He wanted to create his own music. He borrowed equipment from Juan Atkins. For a few months, he taught himself to play the keyboard. He also trained his ear to hear music in new ways.

While living with Derrick May, Eddie built a music studio in his bedroom. He started working on his very first record there. His first song, "Goodbye Kiss," came out in 1986. This song was released on Metroplex Records. It helped to create the sound that became known as Detroit techno.

In 1991, Eddie released "Detroit Techno Soul." With this music, he started the idea of "techno soul." He said that Detroit music has both "house heads" (fans of house music) and "techno heads" (fans of techno music). This idea showed how these two styles could mix. In 1993, he released "The Birth of Technosoul" with 3MB.

Eddie also started his own record labels. In 1993, he began releasing music on City Boy Records. He also owns another label called Detroit Wax.

Eddie Fowlkes is recognized as a pioneer of techno music. His handprints are even set in cement at the Detroit Historical Museum's Legends Plaza!

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