Eddie Fowlkes

Eddie Fowlkes is a techno DJ from Detroit, Michigan, influential to the early Detroit techno scene.

Biography

After attending a 1978 Charivari party with his older sisters where he saw DJ Darryl Shannon mixing records, Fowlkes requested a mixer for Christmas and then made his DJ debut in the late 70s. He was part of Juan Atkins’ Deep Space DJ collective which included Art Payne, Keith Martin, and Derrick May who was also Fowlkes' roommate. In the 1980s, Fowlkes performed with three turntables, a mixer, wah-wah pedal and the 808 & 909 drum machines.

Kevin Saunderson said that seeing Fowlkes DJ at a fraternity party inspired him to get involved in the Deep Space Crew and become a better DJ.

After hearing a Cybotron performance, Fowlkes moved from being interested solely in DJing to creating his own records. Borrowing equipment from Atkins, he trained his ear and taught himself to play the keyboard over a couple of months. While Fowlkes and May were roommates, Fowlkes built his studio in his bedroom and started working on his first record. His first release under his own name was issued in 1986. That release on Metroplex Records, “Goodbye Kiss,” helped establish what would come to be known as Detroit Techno.

With the 1991 M.I.D release of Detroit Techno Soul, Fowlkes introduced the concept of Techno Soul because "Detroit... is both house heads and techno heads.” Then followed the 1993 Tresor release "The Birth Of Technosoul."

Eddie Fowlkes’ handprints are cemented on the Detroit Historical Museum’s “Legends Plaza” as a Techno Music Pioneer.

Discography

• EP (12") City Boy
• Night Creepin' (12") Simply Soul
• Goodbye Kiss (12") Metroplex 1986
• Get It Live / In The Mix (12") Metroplex 1987
• Goodbye Kiss (12") Macola Record Co. 1987
• Standing In The Rain (12") Spinnin' Records (US) 1989
• Detroit Techno Soul (12") M.I.D. Records (Made In Detroit) 1991
• Inequality (12") 430 West 1991
• Serious Techno Vol.1 (12") Lafayette 1991
• 3MB Featuring Eddie 'Flashin' Fowlkes (CD) Tresor 1992
• 3MB Featuring Eddie 'Flashin' Fowlkes (2xLP) Tresor 1992
• Mad In Detroit! EP (12") United Recordings 1992
• Passion (12") Groove Kissing 1992
• The Feeling / F.F. In Crime (12") Groove Kissing 1992
• Time To Express (12") Lower East Side Records 1992
• Turn Me Out (12") M.I.D. Records (Made In Detroit) 1992
• I Wanna Know (12") Infonet 1993
• I'm A Winner Not A Loser (12") Infonet 1993
• Music In My Head / Macro (12") Pow Wow Records 1993
• One Dance / Stella (12") Global Cuts 1993
• The Birth Of Technosoul (CD) Tresor 1993
• The Birth Of Technosoul (2x12") Tresor 1993
• The Birth Of Technosoul (CD) Pow Wow Records 1993
• Warwick (12") Global Cuts 1993
• EP (12") City Boy 1994
• Let Us Pray (Limited Edition) (12") Bold ! Soul Records 1995
• Stella 2 (12") Peacefrog Records 1995
• The Truth EP (12") Back To Basics 1995
• Black Technosoul (CD) Tresor 1996
• Groovin / C.B.R (12") Tresor 1996
• City Dub 3 (12") City Boy 1997
• Deep Pit (CD5") Dance Pool 1997
• Deep Pit (12") Dance Pool 1997
• Soul Train (12") Paper Recordings 1998
• Oh Lord (12") Azuli Records 1999
• Angel In My Pocket (2x12") Undaground Therapy Muzik 2000
• My Soul (Archiv #05) (12") Tresor 2002