The legendary Belgian jazz musician Toots Thielemans playing the theme song from “Jean de Florette,” which was inspired by Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino”
Tag: Toots Thielemans
Chanson du Jour: Theme from Midnight Cowboy
John Barry, who supervised the music and composed the score for Midnight Cowboy, won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Theme. Fred Neil’s song “Everybody’s Talkin'” won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for Harry Nilsson.
Bob Dylan wrote “Lay Lady Lay” to serve as the theme song, but did not finish it in time.T he movie’s main theme, “Midnight Cowboy”, featured harmonica by Toots Thielemans.
Among the film soundtracks that Thielemans recorded are The Pawnbroker (1964), Midnight Cowboy (1969), Cinderella Liberty (1973), The Sugarland Express (1974) and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977). His harmonica theme song for the popular Sesame Street TV show was heard for 40 years.
“Toots” played in both Benny Goodman’s and Charlie Parker’s bands, and on recordings by Edith Piaf, Peggy Lee, and Billy Joel (“Leave a Tender Moment Alone”). He passed away in 2016.
Chanson Du Jour: The Song from Moulin Rouge
Chanson Du Jour 11/28/2016 Toot Thielemans’ “Moulin Rouge”
“The Song from Moulin Rouge” (also known as “Where Is Your Heart”) is a popular song that first appeared in the 1952 film Moulin Rouge.
The most popular version of the song was made by Percy Faith’s Orchestra, with a vocal by Felicia Sanders in 1953.
This wonderful version is from the 1998 album “Chez Toots,” featuring the unmistakable harmonica brilliance of the late Toots Thielemans.
“I was born in Brussels in 1922. My parents had a sidewalk café where every Sunday an accordionist came to play. I played myself at age four mostly French popular songs until…much later when I bought a harmonica, then a guitar and heard my first jazz record.” ~ Toots Thielemans
How Toots Thielemans inspired a champion whistler from the Netherlands
Not long after Toots Thielemans came up with his inspired jazz tune Bluesette in 1961, his style caught the ear of a young Dutch whistler named Geert Chatrou.
Source: How Toots Thielemans inspired a champion whistler from the Netherlands | Public Radio International
Whistling Through the Pearly Gates
Heaven has a new angel, and Jesus can this one whistle a tune.
Belgian jazz legend Toots Thielemans has passed away. Just yesterday, I was online checking the dates of the Toots Thielsmans Jazz Festival which takes place annually at La Hulpe, Belgium. I was hoping to attend next summer, and wondered if Toots would still be able to perform his magic.
Pas De Merde 