Vince Guaraldi

Vince Guaraldi
Guaraldi in 1967
Born	Vincent Anthony Dellaglio (1928-07-17)July 17, 1928 San Francisco, California, U.S.
Died	February 6, 1976(1976-02-06) (aged 47) Menlo Park, California, U.S.
Other names	"Dr. Funk" "The Italian Leprechaun"
Education	Lincoln High School San Francisco State College
Occupations	Musician composer arranger producer
Known for	Peanuts animated music scores ("Linus and Lucy", "Christmas Time Is Here") "Cast Your Fate to the Wind"
Spouse	Shirley Moskowitz ​ ​ (m. 1953; div. 1970)​
Musical career
Genres	West Coast jazz smooth jazz latin jazz bossa nova soundtrack
Instruments	Piano guitar vocals
Years active	1953–1976
Labels	Lee Mendelson Film Productions Fantasy Concord Craft Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Omnivore D & D V.A.G. Publishing Columbia Masterworks Kritzerland
Website	Vince Guaraldi

Vincent Anthony Guaraldi (/ɡəˈrældi/; né Dellaglio, July 17, 1928 – February 6, 1976) was an American jazz pianist best known for composing music for animated television adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip. His compositions for this series included their signature melody "Linus and Lucy" and the holiday standard "Christmas Time Is Here". Guaraldi is also known for his performances on piano as a member of Cal Tjader's 1950s ensembles and for his own solo career. Guaraldi's 1962 composition "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" became a radio hit and won a Grammy Award in 1963 for Best Original Jazz Composition. He died of a heart attack on February 6, 1976, at age 47, moments after concluding a nightclub performance in Menlo Park, California.

Early life and career

Guaraldi in 1946

Vince Guaraldi was born in San Francisco’s North Beach, a neighborhood that later played a crucial role in his musical development.

His surname changed to "Guaraldi" after his mother, Carmela (née Marcellino), divorced his biological father, Dellaglio, and remarried Tony Guaraldi, who adopted him. Influenced by his maternal uncles, Joe and Maurice "Muzzy" Marcellino—both prominent jazz bandleaders in San Francisco—Guaraldi cultivated an early passion for music. He graduated from Lincoln High School, briefly attended San Francisco State College, and served as a cook in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Early career and first recordings

Guaraldi’s first recording was an unreleased 1951 demo with Tom Hart. His official debut occurred in November of the same year with Cal Tjader’s Mambo Trio, featuring tracks such as "Chopsticks Mambo" and "Lullaby of the Leaves", later released in 1953 on The Cal Tjader Trio.

By mid-1954, he had formed his first trio with Eddie Duran (guitar) and Dean Reilly (double bass), performing regularly at the hungry i jazz club in San Francisco, often accompanying vocalist Faith Winthrop.

Collaborations and early albums

Guaraldi made his debut as a bandleader in August 1955 during a live session at the Black Hawk, where he recorded original compositions "Ginza" and "Calling Dr. Funk". These tracks were included in Modern Music from San Francisco, released by Fantasy Records in March 1956. Impressed with his work, Fantasy offered Guaraldi an exclusive contract, leading to the release of his first album, Vince Guaraldi Trio, which featured Duran and Reilly but no drummer. Concurrently, he toured with Woody Herman's Third Herd, delivering dynamic performances that contrasted with his more subdued recordings.

Reuniting with Tjader in 1956, Guaraldi became a key member of two of the vibraphonist’s ensembles. The first, focused on straight-ahead jazz, featured Al Torre (drums), Eugene Wright (bass), and Luis Kant (percussion). The second, formed in 1958, incorporated Latin influences and included Al McKibbon (bass), Mongo Santamaría (congas), Willie Bobo (drums), and reed players Paul Horn and José "Chombo" Silva for select performances.

Guaraldi recorded his second album, A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing, in April 1957, again with Duran and Reilly but without a drummer. Released in October 1957, the album struggled commercially, leading Fantasy Records to drop him.

Mainstream success

In early 1959, Guaraldi left his group to focus on solo projects. While he may have remained a respected yet minor jazz figure, his 1962 album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus propelled him to prominence. Initially intended to complement covers of Antônio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá compositions, Guaraldi's original piece, "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", unexpectedly gained traction when radio DJs favored it over its A-side, "Samba de Orpheu". The song, a gentle and distinctive jazz instrumental, spent 19 weeks on the Top 100 chart, peaking at No. 22—an uncommon achievement for the genre. Guaraldi subsequently won the Best Original Jazz Composition.

Guaraldi (left), Fred Marshall and Jerry Granelli performing as the Vince Guaraldi Trio in 1963.

He embraced its popularity, remarking, "It's like signing the back of a check," and when asked if he had "sold out," he countered, "I feel I bought in."

Capitalizing on this success, Fantasy Records released In Person, a live album recorded at The Trident in Sausalito, followed by Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete and Friends—a collaboration with guitarist Bola Sete. This partnership led Guaraldi to explore bossa nova and the electric piano, gaining further attention through an appearance on Ralph Gleason's Jazz Casual and the subsequent release of From All Sides (1965). A live performance at El Matador in 1965 was later issued as Live at El Matador (1966).

Advertisement for Guaraldi's two-week performance engagement at the Old Town Theater, published in The Spartan Daily, October 24, 1967. Recordings from these performances were released posthumously on An Afternoon with the Vince Guaraldi Quartet (2011)

In 1964, Guaraldi experimented with Latin jazz and orchestral arrangements in The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi, enlisting arranger Jack Weeks. However, internal tensions arose, leading bassist Fred Marshall to depart after an alleged altercation at the 17th Berkeley Jazz Festival.

Stern Grove Festival 1966

Vince Guaraldi Group

Around this time, Guaraldi was commissioned to compose a jazz-infused mass for San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral. Incorporating Latin influences and waltz tempos, the performance was recorded on May 21, 1965, and released as At Grace Cathedral.

By 1965, tensions with Fantasy Records escalated when Guaraldi discovered he was receiving only 5 percent of record sales. He sued to sever ties, prompting a countersuit from Fantasy. In 1967, Fantasy was acquired by Saul Zaentz, leading both parties to drop their legal disputes, allowing Guaraldi to become an independent artist. The sale of Fantasy Records to Zaentz resulted in both Guaraldi and the label dismissing the twin lawsuits, leaving Guaraldi a free agent. However, decades later, in 2011, his children sued Fantasy’s parent company, Concord Music, alleging financial misrepresentation and unpaid royalties exceeding $2 million between 2005 and 2010.

During this transitional period, Guaraldi launched his own label, D & D Records, named after his children, David and Dia. In December 1967, he released his sole album under the imprint, Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus.

Compositions for Charles Schulz's Peanuts

Guaraldi composed music scores for the first sixteen Peanuts television specials plus one feature film, and was responsible for their signature theme, "Linus and Lucy"

A Boy Named Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas

The genesis of Guaraldi's association with the Peanuts frachise began in 1963 when television producer Lee Mendelson, searching for music for a planned Peanuts documentary titled A Boy Named Charlie Brown, heard “Cast Your Fate to the Wind” on the radio. Recognizing its potential, Mendelson sought out Guaraldi, who enthusiastically accepted the offer to compose the documentary’s score. Soon after, Guaraldi excitedly played an untitled composition over the phone for Mendelson, unable to contain his excitement. That piece, "Linus and Lucy", would become the defining musical theme of the Peanuts franchise. Reflecting on the moment, Mendelson remarked in 2008, "It just blew me away. It was so right, and so perfect, for Charlie Brown and the other characters. I have no idea why, but I knew that song would affect my entire life. There was a sense, even before it was put to animation, that there was something very, very special about that music."

Although the documentary was never aired due to Mendelson’s inability to secure sponsorship, the music was recorded and released in 1964 as Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Encouraged by Guaraldi’s work, Mendelson and Schulz retained him for the upcoming Peanuts holiday special, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965). The soundtrack, recorded with the Vince Guaraldi Trio, featured enduring compositions such as "Christmas Time Is Here", "Skating", "Christmas Is Coming", and "Linus and Lucy". Both the television special and its soundtrack were immensely successful, establishing Guaraldi as an integral part of the Peanuts legacy.

Music historian Derrick Bang underscored Guaraldi’s impact, stating, "Rarely has an entertainment icon been so quickly—and firmly—welded to a musical composition… Guaraldi defined the Peanuts sound, and it's just as true today as it was in the 1960s. The compositions themselves are uniformly sparkling; it's as if the jazz pianist and his trio were waiting for this precise inspiration". Mendelson concurred, adding, "There’s no doubt in my mind that if we hadn’t had that Guaraldi score, we wouldn’t have had the franchise we later enjoyed."

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Following the unexpected success of A Charlie Brown Christmas, the creative team produced another special, Charlie Brown’s All Stars! (1966), which was also well received. With confidence in their ability to replicate their initial success, Schulz, Mendelson, and animator Bill Melendez set their sights on another holiday-themed special, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966).

Guaraldi composed the score throughout the summer of 1966, advocating for "Linus and Lucy" to become the franchise’s unofficial theme. Recognizing this oversight in Charlie Brown’s All Stars!, he ensured that the piece was featured prominently in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Melendez responded by structuring the special’s opening sequence around a dialogue-free montage, accompanied solely by Guaraldi’s music. This version of "Linus and Lucy", recorded with a sextet that included bassist Monty Budwig, drummer Colin Bailey, trumpeter Emmanuel Klein, guitarist John Gray, and flautist Ronnie Lang, became the definitive rendition of the piece and solidified its place as the Peanuts musical identity.

Guaraldi continued composing for Peanuts, scoring twelve additional animated television specials as well as the feature film A Boy Named Charlie Brown and the documentary Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz (both 1969). Mendelson later reflected on their creative process in 2008, explaining, "I have always felt that one of the key elements that made A Charlie Brown Christmas was the music. It gave it a contemporary sound that appealed to all ages. Although Vince had never scored anything else and although I was basically a documentary film maker at the time, we started to work together on the cues because we both loved jazz and we both played the piano. So he would bring in the material for each scene and we would go over it scene by scene. Most of the time, the music worked perfectly. But there were times we would either not use something or use it somewhere else. We went through this same process on all sixteen shows. Although there was always some left over music, most of the time what he wrote and performed is what went on the air."

Later years and artistic evolution

Guaraldi in 1974

After spending nearly two years extricating himself from his contract with Fantasy Records, Guaraldi signed with Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in 1968. His first release under the new label, Oh Good Grief!, revisited eight of his most popular Peanuts compositions. His subsequent 1969 albums, The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi and Alma-Ville, saw him experimenting with jazz fusion, electric keyboards, and more avant-garde styles, though these efforts met with mixed critical and commercial success.

Following his work on the Peanuts feature film A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Guaraldi ceased releasing new material, focusing instead on live performances and television scoring. His later work blended jazz, rock, and funk, frequently featuring the Hammond B-3 and Fender Rhodes electric keyboards. His scores for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) and You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975) incorporated elements of funk and disco, reflecting the shifting musical trends of the era. He further expanded his sound with the use of Minimoog and ARP String Ensemble synthesizers. As rock 'n' roll surged in the 1960s, leading to the decline of jazz clubs and job losses for many jazz musicians, Guaraldi adapted by incorporating electric keyboards into his style rather than resisting the changing musical landscape. Despite shifting musical trends, Guaraldi remained a respected figure in the Northern California jazz scene.

Financially secure from Peanuts royalties, Guaraldi chose to remain in Mill Valley, California, performing at local clubs rather than seeking broader fame. Mendelson recalled, "Once the Peanuts music became famous, Vince could have gone out and done a whole lot more, but he was very provincial. He loved San Francisco, and he liked hanging out and playing at the local clubs."

Delayed release of Peanuts soundtracks

Guaraldi’s contributions to Peanuts music canon were both extensive and influential, yet only three albums were released during his lifetime: the soundtracks for A Boy Named Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas, along with Oh Good Grief!, which featured reimagined versions of his most renowned compositions. Despite the enduring popularity of his work, a significant portion of Guaraldi’s Peanuts recordings remained unreleased for decades due to industry limitations and logistical challenges.

A primary impediment to the broader distribution of Guaraldi’s Peanuts music was the uncertain status of the original studio recordings. After his passing, many of his compositions were believed to have been lost or misfiled, posing considerable challenges for archival preservation and restoration. While A Charlie Brown Christmas was recorded in stereo with commercial distribution as a primary consideration, Peanuts specials from the 1960s were produced in monaural sound for television broadcast, making them less viable for independent album releases. (Despite being broadcast in mono, Guaraldi’s Peanuts compositions from the 1970s were recorded in stereo, reflecting an evolution in production practices.)

Compounding these difficulties was Guaraldi’s absence of a formal recording contract during much of his tenure with Peanuts, which constrained opportunities for commercial distribution. Although he remained active in studio settings, his limited engagement with the recording industry—exacerbated by his decision not to tour—diminished institutional interest in preserving his work. Moreover, prevailing attitudes within the jazz community contributed to the marginalization of his Peanuts compositions. While widely celebrated by audiences, some jazz purists regarded his work as excessively commercial, and the association with a children’s franchise carried a degree of stigma. As a result, there was little urgency among industry professionals to catalog, promote, or ensure the longevity of Guaraldi’s television soundtracks.

Death and impact

Guaraldi passed away suddenly on February 6, 1976, at the age of 47, following a heart attack. The night before, he dined at Lee Mendelson's home and complained of chest discomfort resembling indigestion. Guaraldi had recently consulted a doctor, who suspected a diaphragmatic hernia.

On the morning of February 6, Guaraldi awoke feeling unwell and remained in bed. That afternoon, he completed the recording for It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco, alongside bassist Seward McCain and drummer Jim Zimmerman. Zimmerman recalled that although Guaraldi had recently been active, even skiing during a mountain concert trip, he began complaining of stomach pain once back in the studio.

That evening, after concluding the first set at Butterfield's Nightclub in Menlo Park, California, with his interpretation of The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby", Guaraldi returned to his lodging at the adjacent Red Cottage Inn to rest before the next set. While in his room with Zimmerman, he collapsed while attempting to go to the bathroom. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead on arrival at Stanford Hospital at 11:07 p.m. Zimmerman commented in 2009, "It is very romantic to think of someone going out just after they play. I wish he hadn't."

Friends and colleagues later speculated that Guaraldi’s persistent stomach pain may have been a sign of a more serious, undiagnosed condition. Pianist George DeQuattro recalled that Guaraldi had recently sought medical attention for stomach issues but was prescribed medication for ulcers and dismissed. Biographer Derrick Bang later suggested that an stomach aneurysm or another undetected ailment may have contributed to his fatal heart attack.

Guaraldi’s sudden passing deeply affected those who knew him. Mendelson described it as "totally unexpected" and recalled the emotional impact of hearing Peanuts music played at the funeral, as requested by Guaraldi’s mother, Carmela. "It was not an easy day; he was so young," said Mendelson. "It was one of the saddest days of my life." Animator Bill Melendez simply stated, "He was a real good guy, and we miss him."

Drummer Mike Clark remembered being shocked by the news, as Guaraldi had always seemed full of energy and opportunity. "I was in New York, and Vince Lateano told me. It was the last thing I could think of, that Guaraldi would die." Rev. Charles Gompertz, who had invited Guaraldi to perform at Grace Cathedral in 1965, reflected that Guaraldi never prioritized his health, often pushing himself to extremes both musically and physically. His mother later remarked that he passed the way he would have wanted—"with the piano."

Guaraldi's funeral was held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Daly City, and he was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.

Personal life

Guaraldi married his high school girlfriend, Shirley Moskowitz, on February 1, 1953. She initially filed for divorce on April 21, 1966, which was eventually withdrawn. Moskowitz filed a second time in June 1968, which took effect on December 8, 1970. The union produced two children: David Anthony Guaraldi (b. August 11, 1955) and Dia Lisa (b. February 16, 1960).

Guaraldi had a long-term affair with Gretchen Glanzer, later Katamay, with whom he appeared on the cover of his 1964 album, The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi. The two were also shown sitting together on the back of the Grateful Dead album Aoxomoxoa, amid two dozen friends of the band.

Guaraldi was Catholic.

Posthumous revival and releases

The revival of interest in Guaraldi's oeuvre began in 1985, catalyzed by pianist David Benoit's rendition of "Linus and Lucy", which reintroduced the public to the Peanuts specials' iconic music. Subsequent albums, notably Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown! (1989), Wynton Marsalis's Joe Cool's Blues (1995) and Cyrus Chestnut's Christmas-themed tributes, further cemented Guaraldi's legacy. By 1996, A Charlie Brown Christmas had achieved double-platinum status, with sales continuing to rise following Concord Records's acquisition of Fantasy Records in 2004.

In 1996, New Age pianist George Winston contributed to the posthumous resurgence with Linus and Lucy: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, a solo piano tribute that included numerous Peanuts compositions, many of which had never been previously released. Winston, deeply influenced by Guaraldi's unique compositional style, stated, "I love his melodies and his chord progressions. He has a deeply personal way of voicing chords." He added, "His music is part of our culture, and we know it even if we don't know Vince. He had three bags: the Latin, the Peanuts, and the impressionistic 'Cast Your Fate to the Wind' stuff. And those three bags are all his." The album's success led to a second volume, Love Will Come: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2 (2010), and a planned third volume, Count the Ways: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 3, unreleased following Winston's death in June 2023. Reflecting on Guaraldi's influence on the Peanuts franchise, producer Lee Mendelson noted, "Several generations have now grown up with Vince Guaraldi's music. If people hear just one or two bass notes of the intro to 'Linus and Lucy,' they cheer. The Peanuts programs and Vince's music were such a wonderful marriage. It's a shame it got cut off so soon, but people like George are perpetuating it, for which we are very appreciative."

Capitalizing on this renewed interest, Guaraldi's son, David, began licensing previously unreleased material from his father's personal reel-to-reel tapes. This effort resulted in the release of The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites, a 1969 live performance of the seven-part "Charlie Brown Suite", followed by a series of archival releases including Oaxaca (2004), North Beach (2006), Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials (Volumes 1 and 2, 2007-2008), Live on the Air (2008) and An Afternoon with the Vince Guaraldi Quartet (2011).

A significant milestone occurred in 2017 with the discovery of Guaraldi's original master recordings of the 1969 feature film, A Boy Named Charlie Brown. In 2018, Concord announced plans to release a long-awaited soundtrack for It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, though it relied on tracks sourced from the television broadcast, as the original master tapes remained missing, leading to some disappointment. However, during the COVID-19 lockdown, Lee Mendelson's children uncovered the original 1966 analog session reels, containing nearly all of Guaraldi's original music cues and alternate takes. This discovery enabled a more complete re-release of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Concord in 2022, followed by complete remastered soundtracks for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (2023), It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown, You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (both 2024) and Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (2025) under the Lee Mendelson Film Productions label. It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown is slated for release in March 2025.

On November 18, 2021, A Charlie Brown Christmas was ranked as the No. 1 Greatest Holiday 200 Album of All Time by Billboard. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album quintuple platinum in May 2022, recognizing sales exceeding five million copies. This achievement established the album as the second-best-selling jazz record of all time, surpassed only by Miles Davis' Kind of Blue (1959). In recognition of its cultural and artistic significance, Concord, through its Craft Recordings label, launched a series of reissues in 2022 and 2023. These included expanded deluxe editions of Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus and a five-disc super deluxe edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas. The latter album has been subject to continuous re-releases, particularly on vinyl, underscoring the album's artistic and historical relevance.

Legacy

Guaraldi's compositions for Peanuts remain among the most recognizable and influential works in television music history. His signature blend of jazz and lighthearted melodies became inextricably linked with Charles M. Schulz's beloved characters, shaping the franchise’s sound for generations. Through his work on A Charlie Brown Christmas, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, and numerous other Peanuts specials, Guaraldi established a musical identity that was both sophisticated and accessible.

Jazz musician David Benoit has often credited Guaraldi and the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack for his interest in jazz. In 1985, Benoit recorded a cover of Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy" for an album called This Side Up, which enjoyed considerable radio airplay and helped launch the smooth jazz genre. He released "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" on the album Waiting for Spring in 1989.

In the original liner notes for Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Ralph J. Gleason praised Guaraldi's Peanuts contributions, noting, "The hardest task an artist faces is not just to achieve self-expression; that almost comes by definition, even if it's difficult to hone that self-expression into something good enough to be art." Gleason continued: "It is another kind of thing altogether to look at, hear, feel and experience somebody else's artistic expression and then make something of your own which shows empathy, which relates to the other but which still has your own individual artistic stamp. That is what Vince Guaraldi achieved with his scores for Charlie Brown. He took his inspiration from the creations of Charles Schulz and made music that reflects that inspiration, is empathetic with the image and is still solidly and unmistakably Vince Guaraldi."

In his review of The Definitive Vince Guaraldi (2009), All About Jazz critic David Rickert credited Guaraldi for introducing many to the world of jazz music "before we even knew what it was. [Guaraldi]'s soundtracks for the Peanuts television specials were a novel idea in cartoon scoring, yet seemed to perfectly fit the deceptively sophisticated adventures of Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang. His originals were some of the best jazz to come from the West Coast scene and a tribute to what can happen when a great muse hits a gifted composer."

Documentary

In 2010, a two-hour documentary entitled The Anatomy of Vince Guaraldi was screened at a variety of jazz and film festivals. The documentary highlighted newly discovered and restored footage of Guaraldi's appearances and recording sessions and featured new performances and insights from Winston, Dave Brubeck, Dick Gregory, Jon Hendricks, Leonard Maltin, Paul Krassner and surviving Guaraldi sidemen Eddie Duran, Dean Reilly, and Jerry Granelli. The documentary was co-produced by Toby Gleason (son of Ralph J. Gleason) and filmmaker Andrew Thomas. The Anatomy of Vince Guaraldi was the recipient of five "Best Documentary" awards, and was a special presentation at the Library of Congress and Monterey Jazz Festival. Gleason commented, "let's just agree that Vince Guaraldi re-invented the sound of the modern American Christmas."

Band members

Guaraldi used a variety of sidemen throughout his career. His main preference was playing as a trio, although this number would increase depending on the needs of a song, live performance or Peanuts soundtrack. The largest confluence of musicians occurred in 1969 for soundtrack recordings of It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (decet) and A Boy Named Charlie Brown (nonet).

For bass/double bass, regular sidemen during the 1950s and 1960s included Monty Budwig, Dean Reilly, Fred Marshall and Tom Beeson. During the 1970s, Guaraldi performed with Koji Kataoka and primarily Seward McCain.

Guitarist Eddie Duran served steadily throughout the 1950s and 1960s, save for mid-1963–65 when Guaraldi teamed up with guitarist Bola Sete as a double act. During the 1970s, Guaraldi himself performed guitar when necessary but otherwise did not retain a sideman to fill the position.

Guaraldi's first two releases—Vince Guaraldi Trio (1956) and A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing (1957)—did not feature a drummer. Starting in 1961, Colin Bailey filled the role, followed by Jerry Granelli. Mike Clark became Guaraldi's regular drummer for live performances during the 1970s. Other drummers included Lee Charlton, John Rae, Al Coster, Eliot Zigmund, Glenn Cronkhite, Vince Lateano, Mark Rosengarden, and Jim Zimmerman.

The original Vince Guaraldi Trio consisted of Dean Reilly (bass) and Eddie Duran (guitar), appearing on Guaraldi's first two albums. The second lineup, considered the first of two "classic" trios, featured Monty Budwig (bass) and Colin Bailey (drums). This version of the classic trio appeared on Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus and Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown. The second of two classic trios featured Fred Marshall (bass) and Jerry Granelli (drums). This incarnation was featured on more albums than any other trio, including Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete and Friends, Jazz Casual: Paul Winter/Bola Sete and Vince Guaraldi, The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi, From All Sides and A Charlie Brown Christmas.

The Vince Guaraldi Quartet in May 1968. From left to right: Guaraldi, Bob Mays, Fritz Kasten (drums), and Eddie Duran (guitar).

Timeline

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Vince Guaraldi studio albums

Year released	Title	Label	Personnel/Notes
1956	Modern Music from San Francisco	Fantasy	Trio (select tracks); with Eddie Duran (guitar), Ron Crotty (bass); some tracks quartet, with Jerry Dodgion (alto sax), Eugene Wright (bass), John Markham (drums); includes additional tracks without Guaraldi; recorded August 1955; re-issued on CD with the addition of the Charlie Mariano Sextet as The Jazz Scene: San Francisco
1956	Vince Guaraldi Trio	Fantasy	Trio; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Dean Reilly (bass); recorded April 1956
1957	A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing	Fantasy	Trio; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Dean Reilly (bass); recorded on April 16, 1957
1962	Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus	Fantasy	Trio; with Monty Budwig (bass), Colin Bailey (drums); recorded November 1961, February 1962; also known as Cast Your Fate to the Wind: Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus
1964	The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi	Fantasy	Sextet; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Fred Marshall (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums), Bill Fitch (congas), Benny Valarde (percussion); recorded mid-1963
1964	Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown	Fantasy	Trio; with Monty Budwig (bass), Colin Bailey (drums); re-released as A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Original Television Soundtrack)
1965	A Charlie Brown Christmas	Fantasy	Trio; with Fred Marshall (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums); various others on some tracks; reissued with extra material as A Charlie Brown Christmas (Original Recordings Remastered)
1967	Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus	D & D	Quintet; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Tom Beeson, Kelly Bryan, Roland Haynes (bass), Lee Charlton, John Rae (drums); Vince Guaraldi Consort: John Gray (guitar), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Ronnie Lang (woodwinds), Monty Budwig (bass), John Rae (drums)
1968	Oh Good Grief!	Warner Bros.-Seven Arts	Quartet; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Stanley Gilbert (bass), Carl Burnett (drums)
1969	The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi	Warner Bros.-Seven Arts	Octet; with Eddie Duran, Robert Addison (electric guitars), Peter Marshall (bass), Bob Maize, Jim McCabe (electric bass), Jerry Granelli, Al Coster (drums)
1969	Alma-Ville	Warner Bros.-Seven Arts	Quartet; with Eddie Duran, Herb Ellis (guitars), Sebastio Nero (bass guitar), Kelly Bryan, Monty Budwig (bass), Colin Bailey, Dom Um Romao, Al Coster (drums), Rubens Bassini (percussion)
1970	A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Selections from the Film Soundtrack	Columbia Masterworks	Nonet; with Conte Candoli (trumpet), Milton Bernhart (trombone), Herb Ellis (guitar), Monty Budwig, Peter Marshall (bass), Jack Sperling, Jerry Granelli (drums), Victor Feldman (percussion); music and dialogue version (no longer in print); nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score
2017	A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack	Kritzerland	Nonet; with Conte Candoli (trumpet), Milton Bernhart (trombone), Herb Ellis (guitar), Monty Budwig, Peter Marshall (bass), Jack Sperling, Jerry Granelli (drums), Victor Feldman (percussion); complete soundtrack; limited released of 1,000 copies
2018	It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording	Craft Recordings	Sextet; with Mannie Klein (trumpet), John Gray (guitar), Ronnie Lang (woodwinds), Monty Budwig (double bass), Colin Bailey (drums); complete soundtrack sourced from master recordings released 2022
2023	A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: Original Soundtrack Recording	Lee Mendelson Film Productions	Quintet; with Tom Harrell (trumpet, brass arrangements), John Gray (guitar), Ronnie Lang (woodwinds), Chuck Bennett (trombone), Seward McCain (electric bass), Mike Clark (drums)
2024	It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording	Lee Mendelson Film Productions	Decet; with Monty Budwig (double bass), Herb Ellis (guitar), Jack Sperling (drums), Victor Feldman (percussion), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Conte Candoli (trumpet), Pete Candoli (trumpet), Peter Christlieb (woodwind), William Hood (woodwind)
2024	You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording	Lee Mendelson Film Productions	Sextet; with Seward McCain (electric bass), Glenn Cronkhite (drums), Tom Harrell (trumpet), Pat O'Hara (trombone) and Mel Martin (woodwinds)
2025	Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording	Lee Mendelson Film Productions	Trio; with Seward McCain (electric bass), Vince Lateano (drums)
2025	It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording	Lee Mendelson Film Productions	Quartet; with Seward McCain (bass), Seward McCain (electric bass), Robert Claire (flute), Glenn Cronkite, Eliot Zigmund (drums)

Vince Guaraldi compilation albums

Year released	Title	Label	Personnel/Notes
1964	Jazz Impressions	Fantasy	features tracks from Vince Guaraldi Trio and A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing
1980	Greatest Hits	Fantasy	Trio
1998	Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits	Fantasy	Trio; features previously released tracks from Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas plus unreleased music cues from A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966), A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) and Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975); version of "Joe Cool" included is not a Guaraldi song; it is a composite of two music cues composed by Ed Bogas and Desirée Goyette for The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show (CBS, 1983–85)
2003	The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites	RCA/Bluebird	The Charlie Brown Suite – Trio; with Peter Marshall (bass), Bob Belanski (drums); "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" (live) – Quartet; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Fred Marshall (bass), John Waller (drums); mix of unreleased live and studio-based tracks; The Charlie Brown Suite recorded live with Amici Della Musica at Mr. D's, San Francisco, California, May 18, 1969
2004	Oaxaca	D & D	Quartet; with Vince Denham (saxophone), Koji Kataoka (bass), Mike Clark (drums); mix of unreleased live and studio-based tracks; live tracks recorded at In Your Ear Jazz Club in Palo Alto, California and The Matrix in San Francisco, California
2006	North Beach	D & D	Quartet; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Seward McCain (acoustic bass), Peter Marshall (electric bass), Al Coster, Jerry Granelli, Eliot Zigmund (drums); mix of unreleased live and studio-based tracks
2007	Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials	D & D	Sextet; with Tom Harrell (trumpet), Chuck Bennett (trombone), Pat O'Hara (flute), Seward McCain (bass), Mike Clark, Glenn Cronkite, Mark Rosengarden (drums); includes music cues from You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972), There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown (1973), A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973) and You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown (1975)
2008	Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, Volume 2	D & D	Sextet; with Tom Harrell (trumpet), Chuck Bennett (trombone), Pat O'Hara (flute), Seward McCain, Peter Marshall (bass), Mike Clark, Glenn Cronkite, Mark Rosengarden, Al Coster (drums); includes music cues from You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (1972), There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown (1973), A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973), It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown (1974), It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown (1974) and Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (1975)
2009	Essential Standards	Concord/Original Jazz Classics
2009	The Definitive Vince Guaraldi	Fantasy/Concord
2010	Peanuts Portraits	Fantasy/Concord	version of "Sally's Blues" included is not a Guaraldi song; it is music cue composed by Ed Bogas and Desirée Goyette for The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show (CBS, 1983–85), often associated with Marcie rather than Sally
2012	The Very Best of Vince Guaraldi	Fantasy/Concord
2015	Peanuts Greatest Hits	Fantasy/Concord
2018	The Complete Warner Bros.–Seven Arts Recordings	Omnivore	Includes Guaraldi's final three studio albums remastered: Oh Good Grief!, The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi and Alma-Ville

Vince Guaraldi live albums

Year released	Title	Label	Personnel/Notes
1963	In Person	Fantasy	Quintet; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Fred Marshall (bass), Colin Bailey (drums), Benny Valarde (percussion); recorded live at the Trident, Sausalito, California on December 4, 1962
1965	At Grace Cathedral	Fantasy	Trio; with Tom Beeson (bass), Lee Charlton (drums); recorded live at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, California on May 21, 1965
2008	Live on the Air	D & D	Trio; with Seward McCain (electric bass), Eliot Zigmund (drums); recorded live at Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco, California, February 6, 1974
2011	An Afternoon with the Vince Guaraldi Quartet	V.A.G. Publishing	Quartet; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Andy Acosta (bass), Al Coster (drums); recorded live at the Old Town Theater, Los Gatos, California, October 17–29, 1967

Vince Guaraldi & Bola Sete albums

Year released	Title	Label	Personnel/Notes
1964	Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete and Friends	Fantasy	Trio; with Fred Marshall (bass guitar), Jerry Granelli (drums); additional: Bola Sete (guitar); recorded August 1963
1965	From All Sides	Fantasy	Quintet; with Monty Budwig, Fred Marshall (bass), Jerry Granelli, Nick Martinez (drums); additional: Bola Sete (guitar)
1966	Live at El Matador	Fantasy	Trio; with Tom Beeson (bass), Lee Charlton (drums); additional: Bola Sete (guitar); recorded live at the El Matador, San Francisco, California, Spring 1965
2001	Jazz Casual: Paul Winter/Bola Sete and Vince Guaraldi	Koch Jazz	Trio; with Fred Marshall (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums); additional: Bola Sete (guitar); television recording; originally broadcast on September 25, 1963
2010	The Navy Swings	V.A.G. Publishing	Trio; with Tom Beeson (bass), Lee Charlton (drums); additional: Bola Sete (guitar); recorded live in May–June 1965

Additional sources:

Singles

Title	B-side	Year	Peak chart positions			Album
			Hot 100	MOR	Holiday 100
"Samba de Orpheus"	"Cast Your Fate to the Wind"	1962	22	9	—	Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus
"Zelao"	"Jitterbug Waltz"	1963	—	—	—	In Person
"Treat Street"	"Mr. Lucky"	1964	—	—	—	The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi
"Days of Wine and Roses"	"Star Song"		—	—	—	Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete and Friends
"Oh, Good Grief"	"Linus and Lucy"		—	—	—	Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown
"Theme to Grace"	"Adore Devote (Humbly I Adore Thee)"	1965	—	—	—	At Grace Cathedral
"Christmas Time Is Here" (vocal)	"What Child Is This"		—	—	—	A Charlie Brown Christmas
"I'm a Loser"	"Favela" (aka "O Morro Não Tem Vez (Somewhere in the Hills)")	1966	—	—	—	Live at El Matador
"Eleanor Rigby"	"Peppermint Patty"	1967	—	—	—	Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus
"Blowin' in the Wind"	"Monterey"		—	—	—
"Linus and Lucy"	"Oh, Good Grief"	2012	37	—	17	A Charlie Brown Christmas
"Christmas Time Is Here"	"Christmas Time Is Here" (alternate vocal Take 5)	2017	31	—	17
"O Tannenbaum"	—	2019	—	—	29
"Baseball Theme"	"Baseball Theme" (alternate take)	2021	—	—	—	Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown

As sideman

• 1953 The Cal Tjader Trio (Guaraldi's first recorded session)
• 1956 Introducing Gus Mancuso (Cal Tjader)
• 1957 Jazz at the Blackhawk (Cal Tjader Quartet)
• 1957 Cal Tjader (Cal Tjader Quartet)
• 1957 Conte Candoli Quartet
• 1957 Frank Rosolino Quintet
• 1957 Jazz Erotica (Richie Kamuca)
• 1958 Mas Ritmo Caliente (Cal Tjader)
• 1958 Cal Tjader-Stan Getz Sextet (all-star studio session that includes a long/extended version of Guaraldi's piece "Ginza")
• 1958 Latin Concert (Cal Tjader Quintet – all-star group with Mongo Santamaría, Willie Bobo and Al McKibbon)
• 1959 A Night at the Blackhawk (Cal Tjader Sextet)
• 1959 Latin For Lovers (Cal Tjader with Strings)
• 1959 Tjader Goes Latin (Cal Tjader)
• 1959 Latinsville! (Victor Feldman)
• 1960 Little Band Big Jazz (Conte Candoli All Stars)
• 1974 Jimmy Witherspoon & Ben Webster — Previously Unissued Recordings 1967 session from the Verve Records archive; the "Black Orpheus" incarnation of Guaraldi's trio supports the two leaders recorded live from "The Jazz Workshop" in San Francisco, California.)
• 2008 Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival 1958–1980 (Guaraldi performs on four tracks in 1958 with Cal Tjader's group featuring Santamaria, Bobo, McKibbon, and guest clarinetist Buddy DeFranco at the festival's inaugural year)
• 2012 The Cal Tjader Quintet Live at Club Macumba San Francisco 1956 (previously unreleased live performance with the Tjader quintet, featuring between-session audio)
• 2020 Fillmore West – The Final Farewell July 4, 1971 (previously unreleased live performance with Santana, Mike Bloomfield, John Cipollina, Jack Casady, Tower of Power)

Albums showcasing or featuring Guaraldi

Main article: List of cover versions of Vince Guaraldi songs

Peanuts soundtrack list

Peanuts television specials featuring Guaraldi's work

Year released	Title	Personnel	Soundtrack availability	Notes
1964	A Boy Named Charlie Brown (documentary)	Trio; with Monty Budwig (bass), Colin Bailey (drums)	Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1964)	Unaired television documentary
1965	A Charlie Brown Christmas	Trio; with Fred Marshall (double bass), Jerry Granelli (drums)	A Charlie Brown Christmas (soundtrack) (1965)
1966	Charlie Brown's All Stars!	Sextet; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Eugene "Puzzy" Firth (bass), Pete Magadini (drums) (brass personnel unknown)	Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits (1998)
1966	It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown	Sextet; with John Gray (guitar), Ronald Lang (woodwinds), Emmanuel Klein (trumpet), Monty Budwig (bass), Colin Bailey (drums)	It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording (2018)	First special scored with John Scott Trotter
1967	You're in Love, Charlie Brown	Sextet; with John Gray (guitar), Ronald Lang (woodwinds), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Monty Budwig (bass), John Rae (drums)	Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus (1967)	"Peppermint Patty" released as B-side of "Eleanor Rigby" single
1968	He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown	Quintet; with John Gray (guitar), Frank Strozier (alto saxophone), Ralph Peña (bass), Colin Bailey (drums)
1969	Charlie Brown and Charles Schulz			Television documentary
1969	It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown	Decet; with Herb Ellis (guitar), Monty Budwig (double bass), Conte Candoli (trumpet), Pete Candoli (trumpet), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Victor Feldman (percussion), Jack Sperling (drums), Peter Christlieb, William Hood (woodwinds)	It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording (2024)
1971	Play It Again, Charlie Brown	Unknown	Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials (2007)
1972	You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown	Sextet; with Seward McCain (electric bass), Glenn Cronkhite (drums), Tom Harrell (trumpet), Pat O'Hara (trombone) and Mel Martin (woodwinds)	You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording (2024)
1973	There's No Time for Love, Charlie Brown	Quintet with Tom Harrell (trumpet), Pat O'Hara (flute), Seward McCain (bass), Glenn Cronkhite (drums)	• Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials • Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, Volume 2
1973	A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving	Quintet; with Tom Harrell (trumpet), Chuck Bennett (trombone), Seward McCain (bass), Mike Clark (drums)	A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: Original Soundtrack Recording (2023)
1974	It's a Mystery, Charlie Brown	Quartet; with Tom Harrell (trumpet), Seward McCain (bass), Eliot Zigmund, Mike Clark (drums)	Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, Volume 2
1974	It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown	Quartet; with Seward McCain (bass), Seward McCain (electric bass), Robert Claire (flute), Glenn Cronkite, Eliot Zigmund (drums)	It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording (2025)
1975	Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown	Trio; with Seward McCain (bass), Vince Lateano (drums)	Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording (2025)
1975	You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown	Trio; with Seward McCain (bass), Mark Rosengarden (drums)	Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials	Final special scored with John Scott Trotter
1976	It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown	Trio; with Seward McCain (bass), Jim Zimmerman (drums)		Televised six weeks after Guaraldi's death

Peanuts films featuring Guaraldi's work

Year released	Title	Personnel	Soundtrack availability
1969	A Boy Named Charlie Brown	Nonet; with Conte Candoli (trumpet), Milton Bernhart (trombone), Herb Ellis (guitar), Monty Budwig, Peter Marshall (bass), Victor Feldman (percussion), Jack Sperling, Jerry Granelli (drums)	• A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Selections from the Film Soundtrack (1970, music + dialogue version) • A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2017)

Sources

• Bang, Derrick (2012). Vince Guaraldi at the Piano. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5902-5. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012.

External links

• Vince Guaraldi at IMDb
• Vince Guaraldi on LP and CD (complete discography)
• Vince Guaraldi biography and discography at FiveCentsPlease
• March 2015 radio interview (KDRT program "Davisville") with David Willat, who as a child sang on A Charlie Brown Christmas and At Grace Cathedral + Guaraldi author Derrick Bang
• Vince Guaraldi at Find a Grave