Thijs van Leer

Dutch Progressive Rock Flautist and Vocalist

Thijs van Leer (pronounced: /tɛis vɑn leːr/; born 31 March 1948) is a Dutch musician, singer, songwriter, composer and producer, 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. Father of Bella van Leer, Banten van Leer, Berenice van Leer, Eva van Leer and Ruben van Leer. Former husband of Roselie van Leer and Thea van der Kaay Presently van Leer lives in Lathum, the Netherlands with his third wife, Annelies Lommen..