A jazz standard by Toots Thielemans is "Bluesette," where he used whistling and guitar in unison. He worked both as a bandleader and as a sideman, including many projects with composer/arranger Quincy Jones. He performed on many film soundtracks, such as Midnight Cowboy, Cinderella Liberty, Jean de Florette, The Sugarland Express, The Yakuza, Turkish Delight, the 1972 version of The Getaway, French Kiss, Dunderklumpen!, and in various television programs, including Sesame Street, whose closing credits (which did not list him accordingly) featured his performance, on harmonica, of the show's theme, the Belgian television series Witse, and in the Netherlands, for the Baantjer series.
Thielemans started his career as a guitar player. In 1949 he joined a jam session in Paris with Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach and others. In 1951 he went on tour with Bobbejaan Schoepen.
He moved to the United States in 1952 where he was a member of Charlie Parker's All-Stars. He played and recorded with names like Ella Fitzgerald, The George Shearing Quintet, Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Astrud Gilberto, Elis Regina and others.
A jazz standard by Toots Thielemans is "Bluesette" where he used whistling and guitar in unison. Bluesette became a major 1962 world-wide hit for him and this still much beloved and requested piece has been re-recorded by him and commercially released on records/CDs many times over both in various studio versions and live on-stage performances performed in several different countries. His trademark harmonica playing can also be heard in movie scores such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (where his plaintive "Moon River" solo in the opening scene brilliantly establishes the film's mood of romance noir), Midnight Cowboy, Bagdad Café, French Kiss, and in various TV programs like Sesame Street, the Belgian TV series Witse and the Dutch TV series Baantjer. His professional whistling and harmonica playing can be heard on Old Spice radio and TV commercials that have been made over the years. In 1983 he contributed to Billy Joel's album An Innocent Man, and his trademark harmonica can be heard on "Leave a Tender Moment Alone."
In the 90s Thielemans embarked on theme projects that included world music. In 1998 he released the a French flavoured album titled "Chez Toots" that included the Les Moulins De Mon Coeur (The Windmills of My Heart) featuring guest singer Johnny Mathis. This CD continues to sell well.
Today Jean "Toots" Thielemans remains a strong favorite among jazz aficionados and professional critics alike. His music CDs continue to delight (many of which were recorded in the 2000s) and have introduced him to entire new generations of keen fans.
Apart from his popularity as an accomplished musician, he is well liked for his modesty and kind demeanor. In his native Belgium, he is also popular for describing himself as a Brussels "ket", which means "street kid" in old Brussels slang. He received a joint honorary doctorate from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) and in 2001 Thielemans was ennobled a baron by King Albert II of Belgium.
In 2005 he was nominated for the title of De Grootste Belg (The Greatest Belgian). In the Flemish version he ended 20th place, in the Walloon version he ended 44th place.
Thielemans may have had a significant impact on The Beatles, (John Lennon in particular), during the group's pre-fame formative years. When performing in a 1959 Hamburg Germany with the pre-fame Beatles, John Lennon (sometimes with fellow Beatle George Harrison in tow) would often go over to the club where Toots was performing (at a noontime venue) as a member of The George Shearing Quintet. Lennon evidently was taken with Toot's harmonica playing and also for the guitar Toots was playing, an electric American made Rickenbacker with a short play neck. Based on the sound Lennon heard, he decided to purchase a natural alder wood "alderglo" colored three pickup Rickenbacker 1958 model 325 Capri guitar with a short scale as former Beatle and friend, George Harrison would recall to various interviewers many years later. (This iconic famous guitar often fondly referred to as the "Holy Grail" of all guitars, which was customized and tinkered with many times over the years by Lennon including being re-painted to jetglo black in September 1962, is the very same guitar that he played on The Beatles first and third appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show during February 1964).
Toots Thielemans died peacefully in his sleep on August 22, 2016 after being hospitalized for a fall a month earlier.
Ben
Toots Thielemans Lyrics
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We both found what we were looking for.
With a friend to call my own,
I'll never be alone, and you, my friend, will see,
You've got a friend in me.
Ben, you're always running here and there,
You feel you're not wanted anywhere.
If you ever look behind and don't like what you find
I used to say I and me, now it's us, now it's we.
I used to say I and me, now it's us, now it's we.
Ben most people would turn you away;
I don't listen to a word they say.
They don't see you as I do;
I wish they would try to'
I'm sure they'd think again if they had a friend like Ben,
A friend like Ben
(Like Ben)
Like Ben
The song "Ben" by Toots Thielemans is a touching and heartfelt tribute to a friend named Ben. The lyrics express a deep bond between the singer and Ben, as they have both found what they were looking for in each other. The singer promises that Ben will never be alone, and that he has a friend in the singer. The song also touches on Ben's feelings of being unwanted and his tendency to run away, but reassures him that he has a place to go and that the singer sees him in a way that others do not.
One of the most striking things about the lyrics of "Ben" is their sincerity and emotional depth. The song brings to mind the power of friendship, and the importance of having someone who truly understands and accepts you. The contrast between the singer's unwavering loyalty to Ben, and the rejection that Ben experiences from others, is also very poignant.
Overall, "Ben" is a touching and memorable tribute to the power of friendship. It is a reminder to cherish the connections we make with others, and to always be there for those who need us.
Line by Line Meaning
Ben, the two of us need look no more,
We've found what we're looking for and don't need to search anymore.
We both found what we were looking for.
We found companionship and support with each other.
With a friend to call my own,
Having a close friend is important to me.
I'll never be alone, and you, my friend, will see,
No matter what happens, I'll always have the support of my friend Ben.
You've got a friend in me.
I'm here for you, Ben. We're in this together.
Ben, you're always running here and there,
You're always busy, and it seems like you're not sure where to focus your energy.
You feel you're not wanted anywhere.
You sometimes feel lost and like you don't belong.
If you ever look behind and don't like what you find
If you ever reflect on your life and are unhappy with what you see,
There's something you should know, you've got a place to go.
I'm here and ready to support you, no matter what.
I used to say I and me, now it's us, now it's we.
Our friendship has brought me to realize that I cannot succeed alone, we need each other.
Ben most people would turn you away;
People often judge others unfairly and overlook their good qualities.
I don't listen to a word they say.
I won't let their opinions or judgments affect our friendship.
They don't see you as I do;
Others are blind to the great qualities and value that you bring to my life.
I wish they would try to'
I hope they would take the time to get to know you and see your worth.
I'm sure they'd think again if they had a friend like Ben,
If they experienced the joy and support of having a friend like you, they would regret how they treated you.
A friend like Ben
You are an amazing friend, Ben. I value you and our friendship immensely.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON BLACK, WALTER SCHARF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind