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Vince Guaraldi

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Vince Guaraldi
Guaraldi in 1967
Born
Vincent Anthony Dellaglio[1]

(1928-07-17)July 17, 1928
DiedFebruary 6, 1976(1976-02-06) (aged 47)
Other names
  • "Dr. Funk"
  • "The Italian Leprechaun"
Education
Occupations
  • Musician
  • composer
  • arranger
  • producer
Known for
Spouse
Shirley Moskowitz
(m. 1953; div. 1970)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Piano
  • guitar
  • vocals
Years active1953–1976
Labels
WebsiteVince Guaraldi

Vincent Anthony Guaraldi (/ɡəˈrældi/; 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

[edit]

Guaraldi was born in San Francisco's North Beach area, a place that became very important to his blossoming musical career.[2][3] His last name changed to "Guaraldi" after his mother, Carmela (née Marcellino; 1908–1999), divorced his biological father (whose last name was Dellaglio) and married Tony Guaraldi, who adopted the boy.[1] Growing up, Guaraldi was influenced by both of his maternal uncles, Joe and Maurice "Muzzy" Marcellino, both of whom headed jazz big bands in San Francisco for many years.[4] Guaraldi graduated from Lincoln High School,[5] briefly attended San Francisco State College, and served in the United States Army as a cook in Korea from 1946 to 1948.

Guaraldi in 1946

Guaraldi's first recording was an unreleased demo made with Tom Hart in mid-1951.[6] Guaraldi's first official recording was made in November 1951 with Cal Tjader's Mambo Trio. The songs — "Chopsticks Mambo", "Vibra-Tharpe", "Three Little Words" and "Lullaby of the Leaves"[7] — were released in December 1953 on the 10-inch LP record, The Cal Tjader Trio.[6] By summer 1954, Guaraldi had formed his first trio, with Eddie Duran (guitar) and Dean Reilly (double bass),[8] and regularly performed in the house band at the hungry i jazz club in San Francisco, backing the singer Faith Winthrop.[9]

Guaraldi's first recorded debut as a group leader occurred in August 1955 during a live session held at the Black Hawk. Of the tracks recorded, two of them ("Ginza" and "Calling Dr. Funk" the former recorded as part of the Ron Crotty Trio) were original compositions. The sessions were eventually released by Fantasy Records in March 1956 on Modern Music from San Francisco. Fantasy was impressed enough with Guaraldi to offer him an exclusive contract in April 1956, yielding his debut album, Vince Guaraldi Trio, which featured Duran and Reilly sans drummer. At the time, Guaraldi was subsequently appearing with Woody Herman's Third Herd, delivering energetic performances on a regular basis — a sharp contrast from the quiet recordings featured on his debut release.[10]

Guaraldi then reunited with Tjader in August 1956 and was an integral part of two bands that the vibraphonist assembled. The first band played mainly straight jazz and included Al Torre (drums), Eugene Wright (bass) and Luis Kant (congas and bongos).[11] The second band was formed in the spring of 1958 and included Al McKibbon (bass), Mongo Santamaría (congas and bongos) and Willie Bobo (drums and timbales). Reed men Paul Horn and Jose "Chombo" Silva were also added to the group for certain live performances and recordings.[12]

Guaraldi recorded his follow-up album, A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing in April 1957, again featuring Duran and Reilly and again without a drummer. The album, released in October 1957, did not perform well, and Fantasy did not retain Guaraldi.[13]

Mainstream success

[edit]

Guaraldi left the group early in 1959 to pursue his own projects full-time. He might have remained a well-respected but minor jazz figure had Guaraldi not written an original number to fill out his covers of Antonio Carlos Jobim/Luiz Bonfá tunes on his 1962 album, Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus, inspired by the French/Brazilian film Black Orpheus. Fantasy Records released "Samba de Orpheus" as a single, trying to catch the building bossa nova wave, but it was destined to sink without a trace when radio DJs began turning it over and playing the B-side, Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind". A gentle, likeable tune, it stood out from everything else on the airwaves and became a hit, spending 19 weeks on the Top 100 chart and peaking at No. 22 — an unusual feat for a jazz instrumental.[4] Guaraldi ultimately won a Grammy for Best Original Jazz Composition. Guaraldi never minded taking requests to play it when he appeared live. "It's like signing the back of a check," he once remarked. When asked by San Francisco Chronicle jazz critic Ralph J. Gleason if he felt like he sold out with the song, Guaraldi responded, "I feel I bought in."[14][15][a] Guaraldi later commented, "I don't think I'm a great piano player, but I would like to have people like me, to play pretty tunes and reach the audience. And I hope some of those tunes will become standards. I want to write standards, not just hits."[17]

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

Fantasy quickly capitalized on Guaraldi's unexpected success by releasing In Person, a live album recorded at the Trident in Sausalito, California in December 1962. Guaraldi then recorded an album called Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete and Friends with guitarist Bola Sete, Fred Marshall (bass) and Jerry Granelli (drums). This began a period of collaboration between Guaraldi and Sete where Guaraldi began experimenting with bossa nova-influenced music as well as with the electric piano. An appearance on Ralph Gleason's television series Jazz Casual drew greater attention to the Guaraldi/Sete collaboration (the episode was posthumously released on CD in 2001), followed by the January 1965 release of From All Sides. A live performance recorded at the El Matador jazz club in Spring 1965 was released in October 1966 on Live at El Matador.

Guaraldi decided to experiment with combining Latin jazz and orchestral instrumentation on his next release, The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi (1964). For the album's orchestrations, Guaraldi turned to Jack Weeks, son of bandleader Anson Weeks, who had previously worked with Guaraldi peers Cal Tjader and Dave Brubeck.[18] This experimentation may have led to the loss of Fred Marshall, who left the group in 1964 citing "personal differences" after Guaraldi purportedly threw a cup of coffee at Marshall during the 17th Berkeley Jazz Festival.[19]

Stern Grove Festival 1966
image icon Vince Guaraldi Group

Shortly after this time, Guaraldi was invited to compose a "jazz mass" with the Eucharist chorus of San Francisco's Grace Cathedral. Utilizing his Latin influences from his bossa nova days with Sete, Guaraldi composed a number of pieces with waltz tempos and jazz standards. The performance was recorded on May 21, 1965, and released that September as At Grace Cathedral.[17]

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)

Guaraldi's relationship with Fantasy Records began to sour by 1965 after it was learned he was receiving only five percent of every record sale while Fantasy retained the remaining 95 percent. Guaraldi sued in early 1966 in an effort to sever all relationships with the label; Fantasy promptly countersued.[20] Fantasy executive Saul Zaentz became president in 1967, eventually buying the company from original owners Max and Sol Weiss in December of that year.[21] The sale of Fantasy Records to Zaentz resulted in both Guaraldi and the label dismissing the twin lawsuits, leaving Guaraldi a free agent.[20] In 2011, 35 years after Guaraldi's death, Fantasy Records and its parent company Concord Music were sued by Guaraldi's children for engaging in "a system" of "serving false and deceptive statements while underreporting units sold and underpaying royalties." Their lawsuit, filed in December 2011, claimed a private accountant uncovered a discrepancy of at least $2 million for the years 2005–2010 alone. When asked if the alleged wrongdoing goes back decades further, the Guaraldi family's attorney Alan Neigher responded, "Well, we hope it does."[22]

During the period of flux with Fantasy in 1967, Guaraldi formed his own record label, D & D (named after his children, David and Dia), and released his only album on the label in December 1967, Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus.[20]

Compositions for Charles Schulz's Peanuts

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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"

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 (1965), It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966), and numerous other Peanuts specials, Guaraldi established a musical identity that was both sophisticated and accessible.

A Boy Named Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas

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The genesis of Guaraldi's association with Peanuts 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.[4][23] Recognizing its potential, Mendelson sought out Guaraldi, who enthusiastically accepted the offer to compose the documentary’s score.[24] 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.[24] 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."[4]

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.[25]

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".[26] 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."[4]

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

[edit]

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).[25]

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.[25]

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).[4] 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."[27]

Later years and artistic evolution

[edit]
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.[28] His first release under the new label, Oh Good Grief!, revisited eight of his most popular Peanuts compositions.[28] 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.[29][30][31]

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.[4][32] His later work blended jazz, rock, and funk, frequently featuring the Hammond B-3 and [Rhodes piano|Fender Rhodes]] electric keyboards.[33][34] 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.[35] Despite shifting musical trends, Guaraldi remained a respected figure in the Northern California jazz scene.[36]

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."[37]

Delayed release of Peanuts soundtracks

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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.[38]

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.)[38]

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.[38]

Death and impact

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Guaraldi died suddenly on February 6, 1976,[39] at age 47 after suffering a heart attack. The evening before, he had dined at Mendelson's home and was reportedly not feeling well, complaining of indigestion-like chest discomfort. "He was about to do his first cruise. He'd be able to play Peanuts music on the ship, and he was excited about that. We talked about the cruise and the Peanuts shows, and I said that I didn't know what the next one would be yet, but that we wouldn't start until he got back. But he also said he wasn't feeling well, and had gone to see the doctor. The doctor thought Vince might have a diaphragmatic hernia, and that they might have to deal with it."[4]

The following morning, on February 6, Guaraldi awoke with a bad cold and remained in bed throughout the day. That afternoon, Guaraldi finished recording the soundtrack for It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown at Wally Heider Studios in San Francisco with bassist Seward McCain and drummer Jim Zimmerman. "We had just come back from a concert we did up in the mountain", recalled Zimmerman, "and Vince had been skiing, and up there carrying on like nothing was bothering him. But once we were back in the studio, he started complaining that his stomach was bothering him."[4]

That evening, after concluding the first set at Butterfield's Nightclub in Menlo Park, California, with his interpretation of the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby", Guaraldi and Zimmerman returned to the room in which they were staying that weekend at the adjacent Red Cottage Inn, to relax before the next set. Zimmerman commented, "Vince was feeling sick to his stomach. He got up to go to the bathroom ... and went down on the floor. I tried to bring him around but wasn't successful. It happened so fast."[4] McCain commented, "Vince headed for the bathroom but never made it.[40] When Vince fell and hit the floor, Jim [Zimmerman] got me. We went back and tried to revive him, but it didn't work."[14] Zimmerman added, "It is very romantic to think of someone going out just after they play. I wish he hadn't."[41]

Guaraldi was transported to Stanford Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 11:07 p.m.[42] The official cause of death was certified as "acute myocardial infarction, due to or as a consequence of coronary arteriosclerosis with thrombosis and generalized arteriosclerosis."[4]

Pianist George DeQuattro recalled years later, "I saw him about a week before he passed away. Vince seemed really fine. But he had seen a doctor because he had stomach problems, and was feeling ill and tired. The doctor told him it might just be ulcers, and prescribed some dumb medicine and told him to forget about it. But it wasn't that, and it's really a shame. That would never happen today."[4] In his 2012 biography, Vince Guaraldi at the Piano, author Derrick Bang wrote, "as time passed, Guaraldi's friends, family and colleagues would begin to wonder if a stomach aneurysm—or something else—had played a role in that heart attack", adding that Guaraldi's "complaint of a painful stomach ache clearly hadn't been taken seriously enough."[4]

Guaraldi's death was a blow to his friends, family, and colleagues. "It was totally unexpected," said Mendelson.[43] "The day before the funeral, Carmella [Guaraldi's mother] called and said that they wanted to use the Peanuts music. I said, 'Oh, God, I don't think that's a good idea.' I begged her not to do it, but she was a strong woman. And they did play it, and I just fell apart; everybody broke up. She was sitting right behind me. I guess it was the right thing to do, but that made the funeral very hard.[4] It was not an easy day; he was so young. It was one of the saddest days of my life."[43] Peanuts animator Bill Melendez added, "He was a real good guy and we miss him."[43]

"I was in New York, and Vince Lateano told me", said drummer Mike Clark in 2010. "It was the last thing I could think of, that Guaraldi would die. It blew my mind. I'm still saddened, when I think of him, because he was such an energized person, and he seemed to have an endless supply of good fortune. It seemed everything he touched turned into money or opportunity. I simply couldn't believe it."[4]

Rev. Charles Gompertz, who invited Guaraldi to perform at Grace Cathedral in 1965, commented in 1981: "I think part of Vince's problem was that he never really took very good care of himself. He stayed out late, he smoked, and he did a whole lot of things. He tried everything. I mean, when skateboards first came out, he was the first kid on his block to get one, only as a kid he happened to be about 30. He pushed himself to the limit, whether musically or physically. He saw himself as a very youthful person, but he didn't do any of the physical things you have to do to prepare yourself to live like that."

His mother Carmella Guaraldi added: "When it happened down at Butterfield's, when the end finally came, he went the way he would have wanted to go, with the piano."[4][14]

Guaraldi was funeralized at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Daly City and buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California.[4][44]

Personal life

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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.[20] Moskowitz filed a second time in June 1968, which took effect on December 8, 1970.[45] The union produced two children: David Anthony Guaraldi (b. August 11, 1955) and Dia Lisa (b. February 16, 1960).[46]

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.[47]

Guaraldi was Catholic.[44]

Posthumous revival and releases

[edit]

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.[38]

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.[48] 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."[49] 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."[50] The album's success led to a second volume, Love Will Come: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 2 (2010),[51] and a planned third volume, Count the Ways: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Volume 3, unreleased following Winston's death in June 2023.[52] 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."[27]

Capitalizing on this renewed interest, Guaraldi's son, David, began licensing previously unreleased material from his father's personal reel-to-reel tapes.[26] 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).[53]

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.[54][55][56] It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown is slated for release in March 2025.[57]

On November 18, 2021, A Charlie Brown Christmas was ranked as the No. 1 Greatest Holiday 200 Album of All Time by Billboard.[58] The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album quintuple platinum in May 2022, recognizing sales exceeding five million copies.[59] This achievement established the album as the second-best-selling jazz record of all time, surpassed only by Miles Davis' Kind of Blue (1959).[60] 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

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A book-length biography of Vince Guaraldi, titled Vince Guaraldi at the Piano by author and Guaraldi archivist Derrick Bang, was originally published in March 2012, with a second edition released in May 2024.[44] The biography chronicles Guaraldi's career and his contributions to the Northern California jazz scene, and includes a comprehensive discography and filmography, along with an appendix of quotations from Guaraldi's former sidemen.[4][61]

Jazz musician David Benoit has often credited Guaraldi and the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack for his interest in jazz.[62] 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.[63]

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."[64]

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."[65]

Documentary

[edit]

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."[15]

Band members

[edit]

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.[4] 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).[20]

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.[20]

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.[20]

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.[20]

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.[66]

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

Timeline

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Discography

[edit]

As leader/co-leader

[edit]
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;[67] recorded August 1955; re-issued on CD with the addition of the Charlie Mariano Sextet as The Jazz Scene: San Francisco[26]
1956 Vince Guaraldi Trio Fantasy Trio; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Dean Reilly (bass); recorded April 1956[26][68]
1957 A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing Fantasy Trio; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Dean Reilly (bass); recorded on April 16, 1957[26][69]
1962 Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus Fantasy Trio; with Monty Budwig (bass), Colin Bailey (drums); recorded November 1961, February 1962;[26] also known as Cast Your Fate to the Wind: Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus[70]
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[26][71]
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)[26][72]
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)[26][73]
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)[26][74]
1968 Oh Good Grief! Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Quartet; with Eddie Duran (guitar), Stanley Gilbert (bass), Carl Burnett (drums)[75]
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)[26][76]
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)[26][77]
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[26]
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;[78] limited released of 1,000 copies[79]
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);[26] complete soundtrack sourced from master recordings released 2022[80]
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)[81]
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)[82]
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)[54]
2025 Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording Lee Mendelson Film Productions Trio; with Seward McCain (electric bass), Vince Lateano (drums)[56]
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[26][83]
1980 Greatest Hits Fantasy Trio[26][84]
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)[26][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[26][86]
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[26][87]
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[26][88]
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)[26][89]
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)[26][90]
2009 Essential Standards Concord/Original Jazz Classics[91]
2009 The Definitive Vince Guaraldi Fantasy/Concord[92][93]
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[26][94]
2012 The Very Best of Vince Guaraldi Fantasy/Concord[95]
2015 Peanuts Greatest Hits Fantasy/Concord[96]
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[26][97]
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[26][98]
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[26][99]
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[26][100]
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[26]
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[26][101]
1965 From All Sides Fantasy Quintet; with Monty Budwig, Fred Marshall (bass), Jerry Granelli, Nick Martinez (drums); additional: Bola Sete (guitar)[26][102]
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[26][103]
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[26]
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[26]

Additional sources:[104][105]

Singles

[edit]
Title B-side Year Peak chart positions Album
Hot 100
[106]
MOR
[107]
Holiday 100
[108]
"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

[edit]
  • 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

[edit]

Peanuts soundtrack list

[edit]
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)[26] Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1964)[26][72] Unaired television documentary
1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas Trio; with Fred Marshall (double bass), Jerry Granelli (drums)[26] 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)[109] 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)[109] 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)[109] 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)[109]
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)[109] It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording (2024)
1971 Play It Again, Charlie Brown Unknown[20] 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)[109] 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)[109] 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)[109] 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)[109] 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)[109] 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)[109] 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)[109] 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)[109] 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)[109] A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Selections from the Film Soundtrack (1970, music + dialogue version)
A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2017)[78][79]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Guaraldi's response, "I feel I bought in" was reimagined as the slogan "He's not selling out: he's buying in" for the 2011 documentary film POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, directed by Morgan Spurlock.[16]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Vince Guaraldi—the sound of Yuletide on these shores" i-ITALY, December 24, 2010
  2. ^ Bang 2012, p. 11.
  3. ^ Eustis, Ross (April 17, 2024). "SFJAZZ.org | Video: The Many Sides of Vince Guaraldi". www.sfjazz.org. Archived from the original on April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Bang 2012.
  5. ^ Bang 2012, p. 17.
  6. ^ a b Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1951". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  7. ^ Bang 2012, p. 25.
  8. ^ Bang 2012, p. 41.
  9. ^ Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1954". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  10. ^ Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1956". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  11. ^ Bang 2012, p. 55.
  12. ^ Bang 2012, p. 77.
  13. ^ Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1958". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c Bob Doerschuk (July 1981). "Vince Guaraldi: Remembering the Man Behind 'Cast Your Fate to the Wind'" (PDF). Keyboard. pp. 12–19. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Thomas, Andrew (November 27, 2016). "Anatomy Of Vince Guaraldi Documentary Re-Discovers Long-Lost Jazz Treasures". All About Jazz. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  16. ^ "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold media kit" (PDF). Sony Pictures Classics. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  17. ^ a b Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi: He worked for more than Peanuts". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  18. ^ Gleason, Ralph J.; Liner notes for The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi
  19. ^ "Downbeat: Vince Guaraldi Trio Takes A Permanent Coffee Break". DownBeat. August 1964. p. 9.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  21. ^ "7 Distributors Take Control Of Fantasy; Zaentz at Helm". Billboard. Vol. 79, no. 40. October 7, 1967.
  22. ^ Eskenazi, Joe (January 11, 2012). ""Linus and Lucy" and Lawsuits: Guaraldi Heirs Sue for Royalties". SF Weekly. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  23. ^ Schudel, Matt (December 10, 2006). "Charlie Brown, an Evergreen Treat". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  24. ^ a b Bang, Derrick. Liner notes for A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2017); Kritzerland, Inc. Retrieved May 7, 2018
  25. ^ a b c Bang, Derrick; Liner notes from It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Music from the Soundtrack (2018)
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi on LP and CD". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  27. ^ a b "George Winston: Love Will Come Liner Notes". Archived from the original on March 12, 2014.
  28. ^ a b Jurek, Thom. The Complete Warner Bros.–Seven Arts Recordings at AllMusic. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  29. ^ Bang 2012, pp. 235, 253.
  30. ^ Bang 2012, p. 253.
  31. ^ Bang 2012, p. 260.
  32. ^ Kyle, Joseph (October 3, 2018). "Vince Guaraldi: The Complete Warner Bros.–Seven Arts Recordings (Omnivore)". therecoup.com. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  33. ^ Rickert, David (November 18, 2004). "Vince Guaraldi: Oaxaca". allaboutjazz.com. All About Jazz. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  34. ^ Bang 2012, pp. 318, 348–349.
  35. ^ Bang 2012, p. 292.
  36. ^ Bang, Derrick. "Jazz Impressions of Vince Guaraldi". fivecentsplease.org. -Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  37. ^ Bang 2012, p. 256.
  38. ^ a b c d Ginell, Richard S. (July 9, 2024). "Finally, Vince Guaraldi Gets His Due". San Francisco Classical Voice. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  39. ^ "Jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi dies at age 47". Lodi News-Sentinel. California. UPI. February 9, 1976. p. 3.
  40. ^ "Searching for Answers: the Death of Vince Guaraldi (Continually Updated for New Info)". February 7, 2009.
  41. ^ Jim Zimmerman (2009). Vince Guaraldi: The Maestro of Menlo Park (Documentary interview). United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
  42. ^ "Jazz Artist Guaraldi Succumbs". San Mateo Times. February 7, 1976.
  43. ^ a b c Mendelson, Lee; Bill Melendez (2000). A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition. HarperCollins. p. 91. ISBN 0-0622-7214-4.
  44. ^ a b c Bang, Derrick (May 1, 2024). Vince Guaraldi at the Piano, 2d ed. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-5223-8.
  45. ^ Bang, Derrick. "Vince Guaraldi Timeline: 1968". fivecentsplease.org. Derrick Bang, Scott McGuire. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  46. ^ Bang 2012, pp. 43, 84.
  47. ^ Liberatore, Paul (May 25, 2012). "New biography focuses on Marin's unsung jazzman Guaraldi". Marin Independent Journal.
  48. ^ McGarrigle, Dale (October 19, 1996). "Pianist pays homage to Guaraldi". Bangor Daily News. Maine. p. C1.
  49. ^ Maples, Tina (November 20, 1996). "Music Just Happens To Winston". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  50. ^ "Vince Guaraldi". Concord.
  51. ^ "Recent Projects at George Winston official website". Georgewinston.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
  52. ^ Bang, Derrick (February 11, 2021). "Impressions of Vince: Valentine's Day treat".
  53. ^ Bang 2012, pp. 318, 349, 351.
  54. ^ a b You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown soundtrack press release
  55. ^ 'You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown' Soundtrack Album to Be Released. Film Music Reporter. 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  56. ^ a b Vince Guaraldi's "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (Original Soundtrack Recording 50th Anniversary Extended Edition)" press release
  57. ^ "'It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!' Soundtrack Album Announced". Film Music Reporter. January 8, 2025. Retrieved January 21, 2025.
  58. ^ Trust, Gary (November 18, 2021). "Mariah Carey & 'Charlie Brown Christmas' Top Billboard's Greatest of All Time Holiday Charts". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  59. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  60. ^ Cherise, Constance (December 14, 2021). "Vince Guaraldi's 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' swaddles with holiday serenity, just like Linus' blanket". manchesterinklink.com. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  61. ^ Wasik, Rebecca (July 6, 2024). "Bang chronicles Vince Guaraldi's career in second edition of book". The Davis Enterprise. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  62. ^ Benoit, David. "About". David Benoit website. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  63. ^ "Waiting for Spring – David Benoit". AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  64. ^ Gleason, Ralph J.; Liner notes for Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown original 1964 release
  65. ^ Rickert, David (November 19, 2009). "Vince Guaraldi: The Definitive Vince Guaraldi". All About Jazz. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  66. ^ Bang 2012, p. 343.
  67. ^ Yanow, Scott. "Ron Crotty / Jerry Dodgion / Vince Guaraldi / The Vince Guaraldi Quartet / The Jerry Dodgion Quartet / The Ron Crotty Trio: Modern Music from San Francisco". AllMusic. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  68. ^ Yanow, Scott. Review of The Vince Guaraldi Trio at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  69. ^ Yanow, Scott. Review of A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  70. ^ Ginell, Richard S.. Cast Your Fate to the Wind: Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  71. ^ Ginell, Richard S.. The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  72. ^ a b Ginell, Richard S.. A Boy Named Charlie Brown (Original Soundtrack) at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  73. ^ Haney, Shawn M.. A Charlie Brown Christmas at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  74. ^ Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  75. ^ Ginell, Richard S.. Oh Good Grief! at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  76. ^ Ginell, Richard S.. The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  77. ^ Ginell, Richard S.. Alma-Ville at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  78. ^ a b "A Boy Named Charlie Brown – Guaraldi – McKuen". www.kritzerland.com.
  79. ^ a b "You're finally a film score, Charlie Brown!". fivecentsplease.org.
  80. ^ Hinkle, Bob. It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown: Music from the Soundtrack at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  81. ^ Mendelson, Sean; Liner notes from CD version of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: Original Soundtrack Recording (2023)
  82. ^ Mendelson, Sean; Mendelson, Jason; Liner notes from CD version of It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording (2024)
  83. ^ Jazz Impressions at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  84. ^ Ginell, Richard S.. Review of Vince Guaraldi's Greatest Hits at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  85. ^ Koda, Cub. Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  86. ^ Jurek, Thom. The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  87. ^ Oaxaca at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  88. ^ North Beach at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  89. ^ Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
  90. ^ Vince Guaraldi and the Lost Cues from the Charlie Brown Television Specials, Volume 2 at AllMusic. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
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Sources

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