Among the film soundtracks that Thielemans recorded are "The Pawnbroker" (1964), "Midnight Cowboy" (1969), "The Getaway" (1972), "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. He often performed and recorded with Quincy Jones, who once called him "one of the greatest musicians of our time." In 2009 he was designated a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honor for a jazz musician in the United States.