Will Theunissen (30 June 1954 – 1 May 2020) was a Dutch guitarist born in Nijmegen. He established his reputation both as the founder of a local jazz-rock ensemble in the 1970s and as an early and steady member of the Frank Boeijen Groep, a band that achieved broad recognition in the Netherlands during the 1980s. Theunissen’s career spanned several decades of Dutch popular music and he is remembered for his role as an accompanist, ensemble player and occasional arranger.
Career and early projects
In the 1970s Theunissen formed the jazz-rock band Elevator in Nijmegen. Elevator was part of a period in which local bands blended elements of jazz improvisation with rock rhythms and electric instrumentation, a movement that provided a training ground for many Dutch musicians. Theunissen’s work with Elevator established him as a versatile guitarist comfortable with both complex harmonies and more direct rock phrasing.
Frank Boeijen Groep and mainstream success
From the outset of the Frank Boeijen Groep, Theunissen collaborated closely with singer-songwriter Frank Boeijen. As guitarist for the group he contributed the electric guitar parts that supported Boeijen’s songwriting and the band’s atmospheric arrangements. Throughout the 1980s the group released a series of records that resonated with Dutch audiences and helped define a melodic, introspective strand of Nederpop.
Notable recordings
Among the songs associated with Theunissen’s period in the Frank Boeijen Groep are several singles from the 1984 album Kontakt. Notable titles include:
- Doe Iets
- Zwart Wit
- 1.000.000 Sterren
These tracks received airplay and entered national charts, bringing the group wider recognition and securing Theunissen’s place in the Dutch popular-music scene of the era.
Theunissen’s playing was often described as supportive and melodic: his parts emphasized tone, songcraft and dynamics rather than flashy soloing. That approach made him an effective collaborator in studio recordings and live performances, where the balance between vocals, keyboards and guitar was central to the band’s sound.
Legacy
Will Theunissen died in Tiel on 1 May 2020 at the age of 65. He is remembered in the Netherlands for his contributions to two distinct periods of popular music — the exploratory jazz-rock scene of the 1970s and the polished pop-rock of the 1980s. His recordings with the Frank Boeijen Groep remain a reference point for fans of Dutch pop from that decade, and his role as a steady, song-focused guitarist is often mentioned in retrospectives of the band and the era.