Jan Van Halen

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A Dutch-Roman Catholic and native of Sweden, Jan Van Halen is an accomplished bandleader who is also a skilled saxophonist and clarinetist. He and his wife Eugenia are the parents of guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen and professional drummer Alex Van Halen, both born in Nijmegen, Netherlands. When the family moved to Pasadena, California in 1962, Jan immediately sought out music lessons for his sons. Though both started out playing classical piano, Alex soon began taking flamenco guitar lessons, while Eddie acquired a drum kit; the two would later switch instruments. Jan supported the family by playing in wedding bands.

During the recording of their 1982 album, Diver Down, the Van Halen brothers invited their father to play clarinet in their cover of "Big Bad Bill [Is Sweet William Now]". Although the song did not make any of the charts, it is still a display of Jan's exceptional clarinet-playing skills. Indeed, his son Eddie has stated in an interview that his dad was "a real soulful guy" who "lived a full life".

A longtime alcoholic, Jan Van Halen died at age 66. His wife, Eugenia died of cancer in the 1990's.