MUSICIAN

Toots Thielemans

1922 - 2016

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Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016), known professionally as Toots Thielemans ([tuts tiləmans]), was a Belgian jazz musician. He was mostly known for playing the chromatic harmonica, as well as his guitar and whistling skills, and composing. According to jazz historian Ted Gioia, his most important contribution was in "championing the humble harmonica", which Thielemans made into a "legitimate voice in jazz". He eventually became the "preeminent" jazz harmonica player. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Toots Thielemans is the 297th most popular musician (down from 257th in 2019), the 173rd most popular biography from Belgium (down from 157th in 2019) and the 2nd most popular Belgian Musician.

Toots Thielemans is most famous for his harmonica playing. He has been playing the harmonica since he was a child and was mentored by jazz legend Benny Goodman.

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Among MUSICIANS

Among musicians, Toots Thielemans ranks 297 out of 3,175. Before him are Bill Wyman, Larry Mullen Jr., Lee Soo-man, Dolores O'Riordan, Leonardo De Lorenzo, and Maria Theresia von Paradis. After him are Michael Cretu, Khaled, Fela Kuti, Chico Buarque, RZA, and Dion DiMucci.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1922, Toots Thielemans ranks 72. Before him are Har Gobind Khorana, Mao Anying, Oskar Werner, Marek Edelman, Melvin Laird, and Leo Tindemans. After him are Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Hohenberg, Enrico Berlinguer, Adolfo Celi, Michael Cacoyannis, María Casares, and John B. Goodenough. Among people deceased in 2016, Toots Thielemans ranks 91. Before him are Margot Honecker, Thomas Schelling, Melvin Laird, Edgar Mitchell, Michal Kováč, and Kigeli V of Rwanda. After him are Mohamed Abdelaziz, Hanoi Hannah, Claude Gensac, Seymour Papert, Rick Parfitt, and Lloyd Shapley.

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In Belgium

Among people born in Belgium, Toots Thielemans ranks 173 out of 1,190. Before him are John of Ruusbroec (1293), Abraham Brueghel (1631), Princess Clémentine of Belgium (1872), Auguste Perret (1874), Roger De Vlaeminck (1947), and Leo Tindemans (1922). After him are Georges Rodenbach (1855), Theroigne de Mericourt (1762), Gudula (646), Maerten de Vos (1532), Queen Mathilde of Belgium (1973), and Eric Walter Elst (1936).

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Among MUSICIANS In Belgium

Among musicians born in Belgium, Toots Thielemans ranks 2. Before him are Django Reinhardt (1910). After him are Arthur Grumiaux (1921), Adrien-François Servais (1807), Arthur De Greef (1862), Bobbejaan Schoepen (1925), Sigiswald Kuijken (1944), André Cluytens (1905), Brian Molko (1972), Francis Goya (1946), Gotye (1980), and Gustaph (1980).

Belgian born Musicians

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