Toots Thielemans dies at 94

Toots Thielemans dies in his sleep at 94


The celebrated Belgian jazz musician and composer Toots Thielemans has died at the age of 94. A native of the working class Marollen district of Brussels he gained international fame composing the music for films including "Midnight Cowboy".
His manager Veerle Van de Poel told the Belgian press agency Belga that the famous harmonica player had been in hospital for a month now following a nasty fall: "He was convalescing but died in his sleep last night. He died of old age. His body had simply come to its natural end. I will always remember him as a very strong man" said a clearly moved Veerle Van de Poel.

Thielemans was one of the few Belgian musicians who gained world fame. His composition "Bluesette" is today a jazz classic.

He started his career as an accordion player and guitarist, but made it big as a harmonica player. He wrote music for films including "Midnight Cowboy", the racy "Turks Fruit" and for several successful TV series in the Low Countries. Numerous are the fans that looked forward to his annual concert at the Jazz Middelheim event up in Antwerp.


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