Derrick May (musician)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
Revision as of 18:12, 14 May 2008
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Derrick May, also known as Mayday and Rhythim is Rhythim, is an electronic musician from Detroit, Michigan U.S.. He was born in Detroit in 1963 and began to explore electronic music early in his life. Along with his Belleville, Michigan high school friends Juan Atkins and Kevin Saunderson, commonly known as the Belleville Three, May is credited with developing the futuristic variation on house music that would be dubbed "techno" by Atkins.
May's career started in 1987 with the release of a record called "Nude Photo" (co-written by Thomas Barnett), which helped kickstart the Detroit techno music scene. A year later he was following it with what was to become one of house music's classic anthems, the seminal "Strings of Life".
May has not released any original solo recordings since 1993, but has also produced numerous remixes and has worked on video game and movie soundtracks, including, most recently, music for the new film of the popular combat video game Tekken.
In 2003, he was returned control of Detroit's popular annual electronic music festival, originally conceived with Carl Craig. He named his event Movement, replacing the Detroit Electronic Music Festival along the city's riverfront.
Derrick May also still maintains a break-neck performance schedule, playing legendary sets in the best venues on six continents, every weekend. A pioneer of techno, he is a modern day bluesman of what he calls hi-tech soul.
Discography
As X-Ray
- Let's Go, 1986
As Rhythim is Rhythim
- Nude Photo, 1987
- Strings Of Life, 1987
- It Is What It Is, 1988
- Beyond The Dance , 1989
- The Beginning, 1990
- Icon / Kao-tic Harmony, 1993
As Derrick May
- Derrick May: Innovator, 1996
- Derrick May: Mayday Mix, 1997
With System 7
- Mysterious Traveller, 2002
Filmography
- High Tech Soul, 2006
Catalog No.: PLX-029 Label: Plexifilm Released: 09/19/06 Director: Gary Bredow Length: 64 minutes
- Summary: HIGH TECH SOUL is the first documentary to tackle the deep roots of techno music alongside the cultural history of Detroit, its birthplace. HIGH TECH SOUL focuses on the creators of the genre -- Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson -- and looks at the relationships and personal struggles behind the music. Artists like Richie Hawtin, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Eddie Fowlkes and a host of others explain why techno, with its abrasive tones and resonating basslines, could not have come from anywhere but Detroit.
