View source for Jan Akkerman

{{short description|Dutch guitarist (born 1946)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Jan Akkerman
| image           = Jan Akkerman 2005.jpg
| caption         = Jan Akkerman in Russia, 2005
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|1946|12|24|df=y}}
| birth_place     = [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands
| genre           = [[Progressive rock]], [[rock music|rock]], [[blues rock]], [[jazz rock]]
| occupation      = [[Musician]], [[composer]], [[Producer (music)|producer]]
| instrument      = [[Guitar]], [[lute]], [[Bass guitar|bass]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[drums]]
| years_active    = 1958–present
| label           = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], EMIdisc, Sire, Atco
| past_member_of  = [[Johnny and his Cellar Rockers]], [[ZZ & the Maskers]], [[The Hunters (Dutch band)|The Hunters]], [[Brainbox (band)|Brainbox]], [[Focus (band)|Focus]]
| website         = {{URL|https://www.janakkerman.com/}}
}}

'''Jan Akkerman''' (born 24 December 1946) is a Dutch guitarist.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|pages=26/7}}</ref> He first found international commercial success with the band [[Focus (band)|Focus]], which he co-founded with [[Thijs van Leer]]. After leaving Focus, he continued as a solo musician, adding [[jazz rock]] influences.

==Biography==
[[File:Jan Akkerman - TopPop 1974 09.png|thumb|200px|left|Akkerman performing on Dutch television ([[AVRO]]'s ''[[TopPop]]'') in 1974]]
The son of a scrap iron trader,<ref>[https://bluesgate.nl/interview_jan_akkerman.html Interview: Jan Akkerman — Authenticiteit kun je niet kopen of instuderen... (Text: Jan Blaauw)]</ref> Akkerman was born in [[Amsterdam]].<ref name="Larkin"/> He started playing the [[accordion]] before turning to the guitar. Around age ten he took guitar lessons and his first single, with the Friendship Sextet, was released in 1960, when he was thirteen years old. Akkerman won a scholarship to study at the Amsterdam Music Lyceum for five years, developing his composition and arranging skills.

At fourteen he was in the rock band [[Johnny and his Cellar Rockers]] with his friend [[Pierre van der Linden]].<ref name="Eder">{{cite web |last1=Eder |first1=Bruce |title=Jan Akkerman |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jan-akkerman-mn0000808250/biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=20 March 2019}}</ref> Both then joined The Hunters.<ref name="Eder" /> After seeing a performance by classical guitarist [[Julian Bream]], he became interested in [[renaissance music]] and the lute.<ref name="Eder" /> He started the band [[Brainbox]] with Van der Linden, [[Kaz Lux]], and [[André Reijnen]].<ref name="Eder" /> They recorded for [[Parlophone]].<ref name="Eder" />

Akkerman joined the [[Thijs van Leer]] Trio in late 1969 which, as the nascent band [[Focus (band)|Focus]], was the pit band for the Dutch theatrical production of ''[[Hair (musical)|Hair]]'' (recorded as an album in 1969). Under the name Focus, the band explored [[progressive rock]], an amalgam of classical, jazz, and rock music, and had hits in the seventies such as [[Hocus Pocus (song)|"Hocus Pocus"]] and "[[Sylvia (Focus song)|Sylvia]]". The band's albums ''[[Focus II]]'' (1971) and ''[[Focus 3]]'' (1972) were [[RIAA certification|certified]] [[Gold certification|gold]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]] in 1973 for selling 500,000 copies each.<ref name="RIAAProgram">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/about-awards|title=RIAA Gold & Platinum Program|work=[[RIAA]]|access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="RIAA-RtF">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database|title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database|format=To access, enter the keywords "Focus"|work=[[RIAA]]|access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref> The live album ''[[At the Rainbow]]'' (1973) and the band's fourth outing, ''[[Hamburger Concerto]]'' (1974), were certified silver by the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]] for selling 60,000 copies each.<ref name="BPI">{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified|title=BRIT Certified|work=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|access-date=23 November 2024}}</ref>

In late 1973 Akkerman was voted Best Guitar by readers of UK weekly ''[[Melody Maker]]'', beating favorites such as [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]], [[Jimmy Page]] and [[Ritchie Blackmore]].<ref name="MM5">{{cite magazine|last=|first=|title=1973 Pop Poll Results|journal=[[Melody Maker]]|volume=|issue=|location=London|date=29 September 1973|issn=0025-9012|page=5}}</ref> Akkerman and Focus were the only ones to challenge the bias toward American and British pop artists.<ref name="MM4">{{cite magazine|last=|first=|title=1973 Pop Poll Results|journal=[[Melody Maker]]|volume=|issue=|location=London|date=29 September 1973|issn=0025-9012|page=4}}</ref> He placed in third a year later in ''Melody Maker''{{'}}s polls, after [[Eric Clapton]] (#1) and [[Steve Howe]] (#2) from [[Yes (band)|Yes]]. With manufacturer [[Framus]] he helped produce one of the first signature guitar models.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules/infos/info.php?katID=4686&cl=EN|title=Jan Akkerman|publisher=Framus Vintage Archive|access-date=April 23, 2015|archive-date=July 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712140816/http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules/infos/info.php?katID=4686&cl=EN|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules/infos/info.php?katID=4602&cl=EN|title='Framus - known all over the world'|publisher=Framus Vintage Archive|access-date=April 23, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924015122/http://www.framus-vintage.de/modules/infos/info.php?katID=4602&cl=EN|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] released his solo album ''Tabernakel'', on which he plays lute.<ref name="Eder" /> His [[concept album]] ''Eli'', recorded with Kaz Lux on vocals, won the Dutch [[Edison Award]] for best album in 1976.<ref name="AllAboutJazz">{{cite web |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-complete-jan-akkerman-focusing-on-a-lifes-work-jan-akkerman-by-john-kelman |last= Kelman |first= John|title=The Complete Jan Akkerman: Focusing on a Life's Work |work=[[All About Jazz]] |date=24 November 2018 |accessdate=10 August 2024}}</ref> On the album, Akkerman experimented with a 12-string guitar tuned in parallel fifths. In the early 1980s he began to experiment with a [[guitar synthesizer]], as on the album ''Oil in the Family''. In 1985, he reunited Focus with Van Leer for an album and accompanying concert. The band reunited again in 1990 for the Dutch television program ''Goud van Oud'' (''Old Gold''). During the 1990s and in the 2000s he continued playing with his own band, and also as a solo musician, accompanied by pre-recorded computer-generated background (Roland synthesizers and Linn drums).

Akkerman was a [[session musician]] with [[André Hazes]] and worked with [[Alan Price]], [[Herman Brood]], [[Peter Banks]], [[Jack Bruce]], [[Charlie Byrd]], [[Phil Collins]], [[Paco de Lucía]], [[Tony Scott (musician)|Tony Scott]], [[Ice-T]], and [[B.B. King]].

In 1992, he was involved in a serious car accident, but he resumed playing in 1993. In the late 1990s, after an absence of nearly 20 years, he was persuaded to tour the UK again. He wrote for the Dutch magazine ''GitaarPlus''. In 2013, Akkerman released the album ''North Sea Jazz''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tidido.com/a35184372146308/al560196e3e7c622686ac5e125|title=Tidido|website=tidido.com|access-date=2016-04-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423160641/http://tidido.com/a35184372146308/al560196e3e7c622686ac5e125|archive-date=2016-04-23}}</ref>

==Discography==
* ''Talent for Sale'' (Imperial, 1968) 
* ''[[Profile (Jan Akkerman album)|Profile]]'' ([[Sire Records|Sire]], 1972)
* ''Tabernakel'' (Atlantic, 1973)
* ''[[Eli (Jan Akkerman album)|Eli]]'' (With Kaz Lux) (Atlantic, 1976)
* ''Jan Akkerman'' (Atlantic, 1977)
* ''Prism'' (With Tony Scott) (Polydor 1977)
* ''Live'' (Atlantic, 1978)
* ''Aranjuez'' (With Claus Ogerman) (CBS, 1978)
* ''Jan Akkerman 3'' (Atlantic, 1979)
* ''Live In Kiel & Stuttgart 1979'' (With Joachim Kühn)(Sandra Music Productions 1979)
* ''[[Transparental]]'' (With Kaz Lux) ([[Ariola Records|Ariola]], 1980)
* ''Oil in the Family'' (CNR, 1981)
* ''Pleasure Point'' (WEA, 1982)
* ''It Could Happen to You'' ([[Polydor Records|Polydor]], 1982)
* ''Can't Stand Noise'' (CBS, 1983)
* ''From the Basement'' (CBS, 1984)
* [[Focus (Jan Akkerman & Thijs van Leer album)|Focus]] (With Thijs Van Leer) (Vertigo, 1985)
* ''The Complete Guitarist'' (Charly, 1986)
* ''Heartware'' (Skydancer, 1987)
* ''The Noise of Art'' ([[I.R.S. Records|I.R.S.]], 1990)
* ''Puccini's Café'' (EMI, 1993)
* ''Blues Hearts'' (EMI, 1994)
* ''Focus in Time'' (Patio Music, 1996)
* ''10000 Clowns On A Rainy Day - Live'' 2CD (Patio Music 1997)
* ''Live At The Priory 1997'' (Akkernet 1998)
* ''Blues Root'' (With Curtis Knight) (Universe, 1998)
* ''Passion'' ([[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]], 1999)
* ''Live at Alexanders'' (Akkernet, 1999)
* ''Jazzah!'' Mini Album (Akkernet 2000)
* ''Live in Viersen & Leverkusen 2001'' - DVD (Alpha Centauri Entertainment 2003)
* ''C. U.'' (Coast to Coast, 2003)
* '' I'm In The Mood - Live 2002/2003'' (No Label 2003)
*''Fromage A Trois - Live Recorded 2006'' (No Label 2006)
* ''Live In Concert - The Hague 2007'' CD+2DVD (Alpha Centauri Entertainment 2007)
* ''Live In Concert 2007'' (No Label 2007)
* ''Minor Details'' (Digimode Entertainment 2011)
* ''North Sea Jazz Legendary Concerts'' (Bob City CD+DVD 2011)
* ''Close Beauty'' (Music Theories, 2019)

==Awards and honours==
* Knight of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]] (Netherlands, 28 December 2012)
* {{Interlanguage link multi|Eddy Christiani Award|nl}} (Netherlands, 11 April 2009)
* [[Golden Harp]] award (Netherlands, January 2005)

== See also ==

* [[Langcaster Guitars]], a guitar type used by Akkerman<ref>{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.janakkerman.nl/documents/Langcaster.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819165705/http://www.janakkerman.nl/documents/Langcaster.pdf |archive-date=2012-08-19 |access-date=2013-02-05}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* David Randall, ''In & out of focus : the music of Jan Akkerman and Focus'', London : SAF Publishing, 2003, {{ISBN|0-946719-44-6}} 
* Brigitte Tast, Hans-Juergen Tast: ''„be bop” - Die Wilhelmshöhe rockt. Disco und Konzerte in der Hölle.'' Verlag Gebrüder Gerstenberg GmbH & Co.&nbsp;kg, Hildesheim 2007, {{ISBN|978-3-8067-8589-0}}.
* Brigitte Tast, Hans-Juergen Tast: ''„be bop” - Rock-Tempel & Nachtasyl - Band 2 zur Legende''. Hildesheim: Verlag Gebr. Gerstenberg 2009. {{ISBN|978-3-8067-8733-7}}.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://www.janakkerman.com/ Official site]
* [https://muziekencyclopedie.nl/action/entry/Jan+Akkerman Jan Akkerman biography in the Muziekencyclopedie (in Dutch)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021182119/https://muziekencyclopedie.nl/action/entry/Jan+Akkerman |date=2020-10-21 }}
* {{discogs artist|Jan Akkerman}}
* {{imdb name|2132147}}

{{Focus}}
{{Ant-Bee}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Akkerman, Jan}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Amsterdam]]
[[Category:Dutch rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Dutch male guitarists]]
[[Category:Dutch jazz guitarists]]
[[Category:Jazz fusion guitarists]]
[[Category:Lead guitarists]]
[[Category:Progressive rock guitarists]]
[[Category:Harvest Records artists]]
[[Category:Knights of the Order of Orange-Nassau]]
[[Category:Dutch male jazz musicians]]
[[Category:Jewish rock musicians]]
[[Category:Focus (band) members]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century Dutch male musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Dutch guitarists]]