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Jan Akkerman

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Jan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist and lutenist, born in Amsterdam in 1946, the son of a dealer in rags and scrap metal. He began on the accordion and then switched to guitar. At thirteen he already played on a single, with the Friendship Sextet. With a scholarship he studied for five years at the Muzieklyceum in Amsterdam. He played in bands such as Johnny and his Cellar Rockers, The Hunters and Brainbox, and after a concert by the guitarist Julian Bream he became fascinated by Renaissance music and the lute.

Music and breakthrough

At the end of 1969 he joined the trio of Thijs van Leer, which played the music for the Dutch version of the musical Hair. As Focus, the group made progressive rock, a mixture of classical, jazz and rock. Hocus Pocus and Sylvia became international hits, and the albums Focus II (1971) and Focus 3 (1972) sold well in America. In 1973 the readers of the British magazine Melody Maker voted him best guitarist, ahead of celebrities such as Jimmy Page. After Focus he continued as a solo artist. On Tabernakel (1973) he plays the lute, and Eli (1976) won an Edison.

Influence

Akkerman kept searching for new sounds, with jazz rock, guitar synthesizers and self-built tunings. He was one of the few Dutch musicians who challenged the British and American guitar heroes, and he played with artists from André Hazes to B.B. King. In 1992 he was seriously injured in a car accident, but a year later he was back on stage.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Hocus Pocus by Focus. Notice Akkerman's fast, incisive guitar playing between the yodelling and Thijs van Leer's flute.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

Mentioned in other articles

See also

Categories: Artists