Derrick May
Creator of the anthemic "Strings of Life" (1987) under the Rhythim Is Rhythim alias, May brought emotional depth and baroque synthetic string arrangements to Detroit techno's mechanical framework. Born in 1963, moved from Detroit to Belleville as a teenager where he met Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson. Became best friends with Saunderson after Saunderson knocked him unconscious for welching on a bet. Learned to DJ from Atkins and played high school parties as Deep Space Soundworks. Regularly travelled to Chicago to promote Atkins' records, visiting iconic clubs like the Power Plant and the Music Box. Founded Transmat Records, one of Detroit's most important techno labels. Later took control of the Detroit Electronic Music Festival in 2004, renamed it Movement, and invested his own funds to preserve it—an effort that "severely wounded" him financially but cemented the festival's legacy. Described Detroit techno as "like George Clinton and Kraftwerk caught in an elevator, with only a sequencer to keep them company." Has collaborated with orchestras including the City of London Sinfonia, bringing techno to life through classical arrangements.