Belgian harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans retires

Toots Thielemans, the Brussels harmonica virtuoso and jazz legend, is retiring from performing at the age of 91, he announced yesterday. Thielemans said he no longer felt he has the strength to last a full concert and, rather than disappoint audiences, has cancelled his remaining concert dates, his manager said.

“Mr Thielemans wishes now to enjoy the rest he has earned,” Veerle Van de Poel said in a statement. “He can look back on a magnificent and successful international career, where he was faced with many challenges and was always able to allow his music to shine through. He would like to thanks everyone – the public, his fans, organisers and fellow musicians at home and abroad – for all they gave to him, and he hopes everyone will continue to remember him as the ketje from Brussels who grew up to be a citizen of the world.” 

Thielemans (pictured) was born in Brussels’ Marollen district in 1922 and started learning the accordion at the age of three, later teaching himself guitar – inspired by Django Reinhardt – and harmonica. It was as a guitarist that he first became known, playing with names such an Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis.

Later he began to focus on the harmonica, and in the end it became his solo instrument. Although one of his best-known compositions, the 1962 number “Bluesette”, has him playing guitar and whistling along in unison. The tune was so successful, he referred to it as his “pension fund”.

Thielemans was known for his large discography, for film music in movies such as Midnight Cowboy and Jean de Florette, and for his work with other major stars, from Ella Fitzgerald to the Muppets of Sesame Street.

“Toots Thielemans can look back on a stunning career. At 91 years, it’s time to enjoy a well-earned rest,” commented Flemish minister-president Kris Peeters on Twitter. 

“Thank you, Toots! You have given us many magical moments. All the best, and enjoy your more-than-deserved rest,” tweeted prime minister Elio Di Rupo.

Brussels’ minister Guy Vanhengel paid tribute to Thielemans’ ambassadorship of Brussels, describing him as a “wonderful ket” (meaning street urchin, a name native Brusselaars give each other). “Toots Thielemans is for Brussels the greatest of world citizens, a musician with a fantastic career behind him and a great example for the younger generation. We are enormously grateful to Toots for all the musical talent he gave to Brussels and to the whole country.”