Jan Akkerman is a Dutch guitarist. Akkerman is a distinctive guitar player, constantly experimenting with new equipment and guitars. Akkerman's distinctive sound is characterised by his pioneering use of volume swells which produce a smooth, fluty, sustained tone, and other complex techniques such as sweep picking, tapping, and high-speed alternate picking. He also pioneered the use of the lute in a rock band, reflecting his interest in medieval and Renaissance music and culture. He first reached world acclaim in the 1970s when he was seen as the core of the Dutch rock band Focus, together with Thijs van Leer. 

December 24th, 1946 in Amsterdam (Age 77)