Black History Month: Kevin Saunderson

Black History Month: Kevin Saunderson

25 February, 2011 | 12.48PM

• Written by: Justin Jack
• Filed under: Music News: black history month, kevin saunderson, kms

There’s no Big Bang for techno; it didn’t simply appear out of nowhere. The music’s DNA carries traces of countless forebears, from Motown to Kraftwerk. Nevertheless, like all great cultures, techno comes with its own creation myth: the Belleville Three, the trio of three African American kids from the suburbs who gave the music its initial form. For all intents and purposes, Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson invented techno as we know it. Indeed, as this week’s mini-scandal over two young Italian producers unwittingly borrowing one of Saunderson’s classic riffs goes to show, the Belleville Three’s influence goes way beyond their mere name recognition.

We caught up with Saunderson as part of our Black History Month celebration; read on for the interview.

What can you tell us about your roots, both geographically and musically speaking?

I was born in Brooklyn, NY and my roots lie between Brooklyn and Detroit. My father’s side was from NC and moved to NY, while my mother’s side is from Mississippi and moved to Detroit. I moved at 12 from Brooklyn to a city called Belleville, Michigan, where I went to junior high and high school and met Juan Atkins and Derrick May. While in NYC, my musical influence was from my family, and I listened to a lot of disco on the radio. When I moved to Detroit, my mother listened to more Motown and soul music.

In recognition of Black History Month, who are some of your own mentors or heroes, and how have they impacted your own music and career?

My non-musical influences are Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Michael Jordan. My musical influences are Quincy Jones, Aretha Franklin, Stephanie Mills, Kool & The Gang, Cameo, Prince, Parliament Funkadelic and Kraftwerk. They all had an impact because there music was so powerful. They all gave me a lot of inspiration and helped guide my direction when I first made music.

Other inspirations inclue Larry Levan and Ron Hardy and seeing them play live when I was younger, at the beginning of my career. Larry played at the Paradise Garage and Ron played at the Music Box. I had plenty of inspiration from them and the music they played.

What, for you, are the important links between techno music and African-American culture?

This music was created in Detroit by African Americans, namely, Juan Atkins, Derrick May and myself. When I first started, this music was only listened to by African Americans on college campuses and high school after-parties. We were influenced by a lot of soul music and disco, which is evident in a lot of techno.

As house and techno music becomes more global, do you ever worry that it will lose contact with its roots?

I think, yes, you do get worried it loses its roots. In fact, it has lost its roots because how many people know techno was created by African Americans? I think if you asked 100 people, maybe one person would know, and that’s even a high number. The roots have changed. It started here, went to Europe, it came back here, and then hip-hop took off. A lot of African American’s are into hip-hop and R&B, and there was never a big offspring from what we started in Detroit. So there hasn’t been a big impact in America and the black community.

Did you have any help or mentors getting into the studio and learning the ropes?

Sure, Juan Atkins and being in the studio with him… Derrick May and being around him… My brother Ron Saunderson, who was the road manager for a group called Brass Construction; he helped me out with the technical and business aspect of things. Ron was into the newest technology and he was the first person having me use a sequencer and a computer rather than a standalone. 

At what point did you feel your career started to take off?

In 1988, after visiting England. We did a lot of our first remixes; “Big Fun” was floating around on my label and also the Techno! The New Dance Sound Of Detroit compilation on 10 Records at the time. Seeing the impact the music was having provided the moment that it really took off for me.

What’s happening with your own productions and your label KMS Records?

I have new music coming out, signing new artists and releasing records on KMS. I’m also working on a few remixes and working on some new Inner City material. You can expect 2011 to be the strongest musical year in about 10 years from me and my label!

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