Brussels-born jazz musician Toots Thielemans, one of the country’s most endearing celebrities, has died in hospital

Toots Thielemans, one of the world’s most famous jazz harmonica players, has died at the age of 94, his manager, Veerle Van de Poel, announced. Toots was being cared for in hospital after suffering a fall last month and died in his sleep.

“He simply died of old age,” Van de Poel said. “His body was tired out. His family was by the bedside.”

Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor Thielemans was born in 1922 in the Marollen neighbourhood of Brussels, the capital’s most working-class area. He was a self-taught guitar player and joined in Paris sessions with Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, later touring with Benny Goodman.

He eventually established himself as one of the world’s best harmonica players – harder to come by than a guitarist – and recorded with everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Billy Joel. He was also known – like Bobbejaan Schoepen, with whom he also played – as a whistler, and his biggest solo hit “Bluesette”, first recorded in 1962, features him doing both.

His harmonica playing featured on numerous film soundtracks, most notably Midnight Cowboy and an uncredited turn in the closing credits of Sesame Street.

For all the fame, Thielemans remained close to his community – referring to himself as a ketje, born-and-bred Brussels folk. He was given honorary doctorates by both city universities and was named a baron by Albert II.

Thielemans was the public face of the only Brussels regional product recognised by the Flemish government, the bloempanch blood pudding. He was voted 44th in a list of the greatest Belgians of all time and has a street named after him in the Brussels municipality of Vorst, Toots Thielemansstraat.

His last public performance was at Antwerp’s Jazz Middelheim in 2014; he had been a patron of the festival since 1981.

“I feel best in that little space between a smile and a tear”

– Toots Thielemans

Photo: Jos Knaepen/tootsthielemans.com