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.
On Green Dolphin Street
Toots Thielemans Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
Romance was the theme
And we were the players
I never think of this without a sigh
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
Lover, one lovely day
Love came, planning to stay
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
When I recall the love I found on
On Green Dolphin Street
The lyrics to "On Green Dolphin Street" by Toots Thielemans describe a romantic encounter between two individuals that took place on Green Dolphin Street. The singer describes this encounter as a dream that actually happened, a love story with real actors and a kiss that ended with goodbye, leaving the singer with fond memories of the experience. The song speaks of the power of love to create unforgettable moments, and the power of memory to hold them alive even when the lovers are apart.
The imagery of the green dolphin street is interesting and adds a mystical aura to the song; the street is not just the place where the love story unfold but also a character in the story- supplying the perfect romantic setting for the encounter, and elevating it to a mythical level. The lyrics are nostalgic, and the singer looks back at his memories with fondness.
The way the singer, Toots Thielemans, performs the song with his harmonica is gentle and yet hovers delicately over the melody and carries the tune with powerful emotions that accompany the lyrics, crafting a picture that is a little wistful and a little melancholic.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems like a dream, yet I know it happened
Although it feels like a distant and unreal memory, I am aware that it did occur.
A man, a maid, a kiss, and then goodbye
The fleeting encounter between a man and a woman that ended with just a kiss and a farewell.
Romance was the theme
The main focus of the situation was the mutual attraction and affection between two people.
And we were the players
We were the ones involved in the romantic scenario and experiencing the emotions attached to it.
I never think of this without a sigh
Whenever I recall this moment, I can't help but let out a wistful and longing sigh.
Lover, one lovely day
Addressed to the lover that was part of the situation, emphasizing the fond memory they share.
Love came, planning to stay
The feeling of love arrived with the intention of remaining present and lasting.
Green Dolphin Street supplied the setting
The location of the sentimental moments was on Green Dolphin Street.
The setting for nights beyond forgetting
The place where they spent evenings that would forever be engraved in their memories.
And through these moments apart memories live in my heart
Even though they are no longer physically together, the reminiscence of those moments is still vivid in their hearts.
When I recall the love I found on
Thinking about the love that was discovered by the singer during those times.
I could kiss the ground on Green Dolphin Street
Expressing immense gratitude and love towards the location where such a special and significant occurrence happened.
On Green Dolphin Street
The repeated phrase brings attention back to the setting of the memory.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC., BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRONISLAW KAPER, NED WASHINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@howardphilipwoodcraft3756
Magic
It’s like he’s talking
@Susanna129
MOST WONDERFUL~ Admire the harmonica Artist, great music...Thank you, Zuzanna
@wangyiming3341
nice nice vibe
@louierookielou4492
The Great Toots version º namaste
@robertbrowning5678
Key of D Maj. Only Marian Mc Partland would play it in
D Maj.for fun....
@srrlIdl
Why is the audio in a lower pitch?