There is little doubt that you have heard the music of Jean 'Toots' Thielemans. Perhaps his most famous composition is the theme to "Sesame Street," which he wrote and performed on his famous harmonica.

The 80-year-old Thielemans is most famous for bringing the harmonica into jazz. Prior to his introducing it into modern jazz orchestras, the harmonica was viewed as a passe' instrument of folk music.

Thielemans played on the soundtracks of such movies as "Midnight Cowboy" and "The Wiz," and his harmonica has complemented singers ranging from Ella Fitzgerald, to Paul Simon to Billy Joel and many others.

This hour, Toots Thieleman brings his harmonica and his stories to On Point Friday.

a little addl info :

- Born : Brussels, Belgium 1922
Immigrated : USA 1952
- Played accordion at age 3
- Started playing harmonica as a hobby
- First guitar won on a bet
- "Hooked" on Jazz during German occupation
- First idol : Django Reinhardt
- Early influence : Charlie Parker
- Nicknamed "Toots" after musicians Toots Mondello
and Toots Camarata
- First international break through : Joining Benny Goodman
on European concert tour in 1950
- Early US jobs : member of Charlie Parker's All Stars in Philadelphia;
George Shearing Quintet; ...
- Composed "Bluesette", 1962
- Originated new sound : Whistling and guitar in unison
- Whistler for commercials : Best known "Old Spice"
- Harmonica soloist for film scores: Midnight Cowboy, The Getaway,
Sugarland Express, Cinderella Liberty, Turks Fruit,
Jean de Florette , ...
- Concerts and recordings with names like George Shearing,
Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Jaco Pastorius,
Natalie Cole, Pat Metheny, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, ...
- Harmonica Soloist - TV : Sesame Street
- Perennial winner of Down Beat readers and critics poll
"miscellaneous instruments"
- Favorite compliment (from the late Clifford Brown) :
"Toots, the way you play the harmonica they should not call it a
miscellaneous instrument"
" I can say without hesitation that Toots is one of the greatest musicians of our time. On his instrument he ranks with the best that jazz has ever produced. he goes for the heart and makes you cry. We have worked together more times than I can count and he always keeps me coming back for more ..."
from Quincy Jones' liner notes
Q's Jook Joint, 1995

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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 1960s Hamburg, Lennon would often go over to the club where Toots was performing (at a noontime venue) with The George Shearing Quartet. Lennon evidentally 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 immedately decided to purchase a Rickenbacker 1958 model 325 Capri guitar with a short play neck

this site indicates toot wrote bluesette another (not so reliable) site indicated that charles wrote the lyrics. they sound like RC lyrics to me.
- bill 3-19-2006 8:16 pm [add a comment]

another bio
- bill 3-19-2006 8:22 pm [add a comment]