Belgian jazz musician Thielemans dies aged 94

Born in Brussels in 1922, Thielemans spent the early years of a 65-year career as professional musician touring Europe, playing for the likes of Benny Goodman. 

The musician’s real name was Jean-Baptiste Thielemans but he was known affectionately as Toots. He moved to the United States in 1952 and worked with Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Quincy Jones, as well as Stevie Wonder and Pat Metheny, among many others. 

He also played on many film soundtracks, including Midnight Cowboy in 1969 which starred Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman and won three Academy Awards. 

Perhaps his best-known harmonica performance was on the theme song to the children’s television show Sesa me Street , heard at the start and finish of each episode. 

Thielemans, who retired in 2014, citing health reasons, was recovering from a broken arm in a Brussels hospital where he died on Monday morning. 

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said: “We have lost a great musician, a warm personality.”