1. juan atkins - without model 500, i don't think we'd be having this discussion. in my mind he really was the tru progenitor of the sound. "no ufo's" came out 1985. still sounds amazing. juan was making tracks like this when mills, hood and banks were in still diapers.
"off to battle" still gives me the chills.

2. renaat vandepapeliere - founder of R&S records. i can't imagine a more influental record label in electronic music. first release was "can't get enough of your love" in 1982 by big tony when acid house was just a glint in disco's eye. R&S; miles ahead of the curve.

3. derrick may - founder transmat records. personally, i'm not that fanatical about derrick's own work, but where anyone be without his record label? so many classics - "the art of stalking", "ocean to ocean", "energy flash" etc. were it not for "strings of life" altern 8 would've never made evapor 8. props to derrick for taking over demf / movement as well.