Photo by Frank Beacham
Toots Thielemans was born 100 years ago today.
A Belgian jazz musician known for his guitar and harmonica playing as well as his whistling, Thielemans was one of the greatest harmonica players of the 20th century. He worked as a bandleader (scoring an international hit in the 1960s with his song, "Bluesette") and as a sideman (notably on many projects with composer/arranger Quincy Jones). He appeared on dozens of film soundtracks.
In 2009, he became NEA Jazz Master, the highest honor for a jazz musician in the United States. He may be best known to some as the performer whistling the melody in commercials for Old Spice cologne.
Thielemans started his career as a guitar player. In 1949, he joined a jam session in Paris that included Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Max Roach. In 1949 and 1950, he participated in European tours with Benny Goodman, making his first record in Paris with fellow band member, tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims.
In 1951, he became a band member of the singer-songwriter and compatriot Bobbejaan Schoepen (at the time still as a guitarist). He moved to the U.S. in 1952 where he was a member of Charlie Parker's All-Stars and worked with Miles Davis and Dinah Washington.
From 1952 to 1959, he was a member of the George Shearing Quintet, primarily playing guitar but also being featured on harmonica both in performances and on recordings. He played and recorded with Ella Fitzgerald, Jaco Pastorius, Stephane Grappelli, Édith Piaf, J.J. Johnson, Michael Franks, Peggy Lee, John Williams, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, The Happenings, Astrud Gilberto, Shirley Horn, Elis Regina and Joe Pass.
A jazz standard by Toots Thielemans is "Bluesette," where he used whistling and guitar in unison. First recorded by him in 1962, with lyrics added by Norman Gimbel, the song became a major worldwide hit.
Thielemans announced his retirement, at the age of 91, on March 12, 2014. He died in Belgium in August, 2016, at the age of 94.
Here, Thielemans performs “Bluesette”
Toots Thielemans and friends at his 90th birthday concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center
Photos by Frank Beacham