- Kevin Saunderson -
Jack of many trades
born in 1964
In addition to being a platinum-selling recording artist, a label boss, a festival promoter, a cultural icon, a cracking DJ, Kevin Saunderson is an all-around kind of guy. With many trades under his belt, many are shocked at all the 'career paths' he has chosen to go down!
Detroit, the city where he grew up, and American music culture have been impacted by the work of Kevin. As one of the Belleville Three, which included Juan Atkins and Derrick May, Saunderson transformed electronic music and changed it for the better. There are not many artists at this time that made a positive impact on society.
As the only member of the Belleville Three (he, Juan Atkins, and Derrick May) not born in Detroit, Saunderson is one of the most renowned players in Detroit history.
He was born in 1964 on the east coast of the United States. His father had eight children, and he was the ninth and last. When he was 12, his parents moved to Detroit, where he met Derrick May and Juan Atkins at Belleville Junior High. A big family, which many do not realize, can have a significant impact on an individual.
Saunderson studied telecommunications at nearby Eastern Michigan University and dreamed of becoming a professional football player while Atkins recorded with Cybotron and May launched his DJ career. It was by 1984 that Saunderson changed direction and turned to DJing.
Inadvertently, Saunderson's relatively late start in the music industry - starting in '87 as Kreem, E-Dancer, and Reese followed - helped him gain an advantage as a producer. Immediately following the emergence of house music in Chicago a few hours down the I-94, Saunderson blended Detroit's raw sound with pop-leaning sensibilities.
He earned the nickname 'The Elevator' for three reasons: for spreading Detroit's new sound to a broader audience; for his highly energetic, high-spirited, and impactful sets; and for dedicating the past 35 years of his life to improving the culture, he helped create.
Also, Saunderson plays a key role behind the scenes as an integral part of Detroit's Movement (formerly the Detroit Electronic Music Festival/Fuse-In). With Movement previously producing the event in the mid-2000s, the last couple of years have seen Movement consistently invited to showcase his ORIGINS at the festival, bringing acts like Delano Smith, Phuture, and DJ Minx to the lineup.
In 1991, Saunderson adopted the alias "Reese Project.". As a gospel-oriented variant of Inner City's techno-pop sound, Reese Project toured Britain as a support act for Inner City and released Faith, Hope & Clarity in 1992. That same year, Inner City released its third album, Praise.
Saunderson's Inner City came about by accident, according to him. While recording a backing track in his home studio in 1987, he required lyrics and a female singer. It was his friend, Chicago house producer Terry 'Housemaster' Baldwin, who suggested Paris Grey. "Paris agreed and flew into Detroit to write the lyrics. Soon after, 'Big Fun' was born.