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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.
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 Sesame Street, heard at
the start and finish of each episode.
Thielemans, who retired in 2014, 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."
(Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
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