Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (Brussels, Belgium, April 2… Read Full Bio ↴Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (Brussels, Belgium, April 29, 1922 - August 22, 2016), known as Toots Thielemans, was a Belgian jazz musician. He was known for his harmonica playing, as well as his guitar and whistling skills.
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.
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.
For My Lady
Toots Thielemans Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'For My Lady' by these artists:
Ace Nells [feat. Dice] Yesterday was another life time It now all seems so far…
Blood Sweat & Tears The silence of your smile Your fingers whisper slowly My l…
The Moody Blues My boat sails stormy seas Battles oceans filled with tears A…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Toots Thielemans:
'Round Midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty we…
01 Love Is Just Around The Corner Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody, But can't you…
All The Way When somebody loves you It's no good unless he loves you,…
Autumn Leaves The falling leaves drift by the window The autumn leaves of…
Ben Ben, the two of us need look no more, We both…
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea I don't want you But I hate to lose you…
Bluesette Poor little, sad little blue Bluesette Dont you cry, don't y…
Body & Soul My heart is sad and lonely For you I sigh, for…
Bye Bye Blackbird No one here can love or understand me Oh, what hard…
Canto De Ossanha O canto da mais difícil E mais misteriosa das deusas Do cand…
Caravan Night and stars above that shine so bright The myst'ry…
Coisa Féita Sou bem mulher de pegar macho pelo pé Reencarnação da Prince…
Comecar De Novo To start of new E to count on me Vai to be…
Coracao Vagabundo Meu coração não se cansa De ter esperança De um dia ser…
Days of wine & roses The days of wine and roses laugh and run away…
Deep Purple Woo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo When the…
Destination Of My Heart I let a song go out of my heart It was…
Diga Diga Doo Zulu man is feelin' blue Gear his heart beat a little…
Do Not Leave Me If you go away on this summer day Then you might…
Don't Blame Me Ever since the lucky night I found you I've hung around…
East of the Sun East of the sun and west of the moon We'll build…
Estate Sei calda come i baci che ho perduto Sei piena di…
Falling in Love With Love I weave with brightly colored strings To keep my mind off…
Fruta Boa oohhs…
Green Dolphin Street It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened A…
Here's That Rainy Day Maybe I should have saved those left over dreams Funny, but…
How Long Has This Been Going On I could cry salty tears Where have I been all…
I Do It For Love We were married on a rainy day The sky was yellow And…
I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues I gotta right to sing the blues I gotta right to…
I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart I let a song go out of my heart It was…
I Let Song Go Out Of My Heart I let a song go out of my heart It was…
I Love Paris I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
If You Could See Me Now If you could see me now, you'd know how blue…
IMAGINATION Magic mirror come and search my heart Can you tell me…
It It's not unusual to be loved by anyone It's not unusual…
It's Only a Paper Moon Say, it's only a paper moon Sailing over a cardboard sea But…
It's the Talk of the Town We were more than lovers, We were more than sweethearts, It'…
La Vie en rose Hold me close and hold me fast The magic spell you…
Last Night When We Were Young Last night when we were young Love was a star, a…
Laura You know the feeling of something half remembered Of somethi…
Les Moulins De Mon Coeur Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel…
Love Is Just Around The Corner Beautiful miracle, pardon my lyrical rhapsody, But can't you…
Manhattan Spring in Manhattan starts after dark After a lazy afternoon…
Midnight Cowboy (Midnight cowboy, midnight cowboy See the lonesome midnight …
Moulin Rouge When ever we kiss, I worry and wonder. Your lips may be…
Ne Me Quitte Pas Ne me quitte pas Il faut oublier Tout peut s'oublier Qu…
Nice To Be Around You'd be so nice to come home to You'd be so…
Nobody Does It Better Nobody does it better makes me feel sad for the…
Nothing Else Matters Do I love you? Let me tell ya, My Mona Lisa with…
Oh La La Vous êtes triste Quand je vous résiste Quand nous luttons cœ…
Oh Susannah Well I come from Alabama with my banjo on my…
on green dolphin street It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened A…
On the Alamo Where the moon swings low On the Alamo, In a garden fair…
Once In A While Once in a while will you try to give One little…
Only Trust Your Heart Talking by the pool of light, language from America. She put…
Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
Round Midnight It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight I do pretty we…
Secret love Once I had a secret love, That lived within the heart…
Shadow The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
Skylark Skylark Have you anything to say to me? Won't you tell me…
Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
Someday My Prince Will Come Somewhere waiting for me There is someone I'm longing to see…
Someone To Watch Over Me There's a saying old says that love is blind Still were…
Somewhere Over The Rainbow Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There's a land that…
Sonny Boy Climb up on my knee Sonny Boy Though you're only three…
Sophisticated Lady Sophisticated lady tryin' to change my ways Just because you…
Stardust And now the purple dusk of twilight time Steals across the…
Stars Fell On Alabama Moonlight and magnolia, starlight in your hair All the world…
Stormy Weather Dont know why theres no sun up in the sky Stormy…
That Old Black Magic Old black magic has me in its spell Old black magic…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at you…
The Days Of Wine And Roses The days of wine and roses laugh and run away…
The More I See You Each time I look at you is like the first…
The Shadow of Your Smile The shadow of your smile When you have gone Will color all…
The Windmills Of Your Mind Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel…
There Is No Greater Love There is no greater love Than what I feel for you No…
This Time The Dream Somewhere, someday Well be close together, wait and see Oh…
Try a Little Tenderness Oh she may be weary Them young girls they do get…
Velas What would I give to hold you once again? What would…
Wave Vou te contar Os olhos já não podem ver Coisas que só…
What A Wonderful World I see trees of green, red roses too I watch them…
What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life I want to see your face in every kind of…
Whispering Don't worry I'm not looking at you Gorgeous and dressed in…
Windmills of Your Mind Round like a circle in a spiral, like a wheel…
You Stepped Out of a Dream You stepped out of a dream You are too wonderful to…
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