ENDEIT
Vince Guaraldi
Photo: University of Santa Clara, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Pianists · 1928–1976

Vince Guaraldi

American jazz pianist (1928–1976)

Born
17 July 1928
North Beach
Died
6 February 1976
Menlo Park
Country
United States
Active
1953–
Record labels
Warner Bros. Records, Fantasy, Concord, Omnivore Recordings, Warner Bros.-Seven Arts
Discography
22 albums

Biography

Vince Guaraldi was a jazz musician who played piano. Vince Guaraldi was born on 17 July 1928 in North Beach and died on 6 February 1976 in Menlo Park. The music is usually filed under jazz, bossa nova and Latin jazz. Record labels: Warner Bros. Records, Fantasy, Concord and Omnivore Recordings. The discography here lists 22 albums, from “Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete, and Friends” (1963) to “It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown / Charlie Brown’s All Stars!” (2026). Honours include Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition.

Vincent Anthony Guaraldi (; né Dellaglio, July 17, 1928 – February 6, 1976) was an American jazz pianist who composed 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". The soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas, composed principally by Guaraldi, became the best-selling jazz album of all time. Guaraldi also performed 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 ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm on February 6, 1976, at age 47, moments after concluding the first half of a nightclub performance in Menlo Park, California.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete, and Friends 1963
“In Person” 1963 · Live
“From All Sides” 1964
Vince Guaraldi at Grace Cathedral 1965 · Live
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” Featuring the Famous Peanuts Characters: Original Soundtrack 1965
Live at El Matador 1966 · Live
Oh, Good Grief! 1968
Alma-Ville 1969
The Eclectic 1969
Oaxaca 2004
Vince Guaraldi With the San Francisco Boys Chorus 2005
North Beach 2006
A Boy Named Charlie Brown: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack 2017
It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown 2018
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving: Original Soundtrack Recording 2023
It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording 2024
You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown 2024
Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown 2025
It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown 2025
You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown: Original Soundtrack Recording 2025
It's A Mystery, Charlie Brown 2026 · LMFP
It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown / Charlie Brown’s All Stars! 2026

Awards

  • Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition

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Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Vince Guaraldi play?

Vince Guaraldi is known for playing piano.

When and where was Vince Guaraldi born?

Vince Guaraldi was born 17 July 1928 in North Beach.

What are Vince Guaraldi's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include It's A Mystery, Charlie Brown (2026), Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete, and Friends (1963), “In Person” (1963), “From All Sides” (1964) and Vince Guaraldi at Grace Cathedral (1965).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.