Thijs van Leer is a Dutch singer and keyboardist, best known as the founding member of the rock band Focus as its primary vocalist, keyboardist, and flautist. Born and raised in Amsterdam among a musical family, van Leer took up the piano and flute as a child and pursued them at university and music academies.
van Leer in 2014
van Leer in November 1971
van Leer circa 1970s
Focus is a Dutch progressive rock band formed in Amsterdam in 1969 by keyboardist, vocalist, and flautist Thijs van Leer, drummer Hans Cleuver, bassist Martijn Dresden, and guitarist Jan Akkerman. The band has undergone numerous formations in its history; since December 2016, it has comprised Van Leer, drummer Pierre van der Linden, guitarist Menno Gootjes, and bassist Udo Pannekeet. They have sold one million RIAA-certified albums in the United States.
The 2011–2016 line-up of Focus in 2014 Left to right: Menno Gootjes, Thijs van Leer, Pierre van der Linden, Bobby Jacobs
Thijs van Leer, the founding member of Focus, in 1971
Phillip Catherine replaced Akkerman in 1976
Drummer Pierre van der Linden rejoined Focus in 2004