Toots Thielemans gets a Google Doodle for his 100th birthday! Of course, he’s rendered in his golden years, so I’ve appended a photo from his comparative youth.
It’s only been six years since the Belgian harmonica player tooted his last. He lived a long and fruitful life, bringing joy and consolation to millions.
Besides his considerable jazz achievements, Thielemans performed on the soundtracks of John Williams’ “The Sugarland Express” and “Cinderella Liberty.” He can also be heard in the film version of “Midnight Cowboy” (though Tommy Reilly appears on the original soundtrack album).
And no one of my generation will forget his contribution to this:
From Sesame Street to the only X-rated movie ever to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, with the Boston Pops, no less. John Barry wrote the music, by the way.
Toots plays “Cinderella Liberty”
Toots visits Letterman
Toots on guitar, jamming with Miles Davis, Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Max Roach and more in 1949
With Billy Joel
Prime Toots, with harmonica, guitar, and whistle
Quincy Jones called him “one of the greatest musicians of our time.” If you do a Google search today, be sure and honk for Toots!
