# 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 the first half of a nightclub performance in Menlo Park, California.

## Early life and career

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, Carmella (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 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition.
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 J. 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).
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.
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 five 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. 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
### 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.
Guaraldi 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, highlighting Guaraldi's jazz score as essential to A Charlie Brown Christmas's widespread appeal. "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." Despite Guaraldi's inexperience in scoring and Mendelson’s documentary background, their shared affinity for jazz facilitated a meticulous, iterative process of reviewing and refining each cue—a method they applied across sixteen specials. While some material was repurposed or omitted, most of Guaraldi’s compositions remained integral to the final productions.

### 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).

## Later years and artistic evolution

After nearly two years of navigating legal and contractual complexities to extricate himself from his agreement with Fantasy Records, Guaraldi signed with Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in 1968. His first release under the new label, Oh Good Grief!, featured reimagined renditions of eight of his most popular Peanuts compositions. His subsequent 1969 albums, The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi and Alma-Ville, marked a departure from his earlier work, incorporating jazz fusion, electric keyboards, and more avant-garde styles. However, these experimental efforts received mixed critical and commercial reception, leading Warner Bros.-Seven Arts to decline a contract renewal.
Following his work on the Peanuts feature film A Boy Named Charlie Brown and the release of Alma-Ville, Guaraldi was unable to secure a new recording contract. Frustrated by the industry's lack of interest, he ceased releasing new material and redirected his focus toward 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."

## 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, and had also sought medical attention for persistent stomach issues. However, he was prescribed medication for ulcers and dismissed without further examination.
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. Reflecting on Guaraldi’s sudden passing, Zimmerman remarked 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. Guaraldi biographer Derrick Bang later suggested that an abdominal aortic 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, Carmella. "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, California, and he was laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma.

## Personal life

Guaraldi married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Moskowitz, on February 1, 1953. Their marriage produced two children, David Anthony Guaraldi (b. August 11, 1955) and Dia Lisa (b. February 16, 1960). Moskowitz initially filed for divorce on April 21, 1966, but later withdrew the petition. A second filing in June 1968 was finalized on December 8, 1970.
Guaraldi maintained a long-term relationship with Gretchen Glanzer (later Katamay), who appeared on the cover of The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi. The two were also photographed together on the back cover of the Grateful Dead's 1969 album Aoxomoxoa, among friends of the band.
Guaraldi was a practicing Catholic.

## Revival, rediscovery, and posthumous releases

Despite Guaraldi's pivotal role in shaping Peanuts music, only three albums containing the music—Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Oh Good Grief! (featuring reimagined versions of his compositions)—were released during his lifetime. The broader dissemination of his Peanuts work was hindered by the uncertain status of his original studio recordings, many of which were believed lost or misfiled after his passing, limiting commercial opportunities. Additionally, while A Charlie Brown Christmas was recorded in stereo for commercial distribution, the Peanuts television specials of the 1960s were produced in monaural sound, restricting their suitability for independent release.
Interest in Guaraldi's oeuvre resurged in 1985 with David Benoit's rendition of "Linus and Lucy" on This Side Up, reintroducing the distinctive sound of the Peanuts television specials to new audiences. This revival continued with tribute albums such as Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown! (1989), Wynton Marsalis's Joe Cool's Blues (1995), and Cyrus Chestnut Christmas-themed recordings. By 1996, A Charlie Brown Christmas had achieved double-platinum status, with sales increasing after Concord Records acquired Fantasy Records in 2004.
New Age pianist George Winston further contributed to Guaraldi's resurgence with Linus and Lucy: The Music of Vince Guaraldi (1996), a solo piano tribute that included previously unreleased Peanuts compositions. Winston, who cited Guaraldi as a key influence, 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 passing in June 2023.
In response to renewed interest, Guaraldi's son, David Guaraldi, began licensing unreleased material from his father's personal reel-to-reel tapes. This effort led to several archival releases, including The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites (2003), 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). These releases offered deeper insight into Guaraldi's extensive yet under-documented body of work. However, the absence of a formal recording contract and his limited engagement with the industry resulted in a fragmented catalog. His decision not to tour further diminished institutional interest in preserving his music. Additionally, while widely celebrated by audiences, his Peanuts compositions were often regarded by jazz purists as overly commercial, which contributed to the industry's lack of urgency in cataloging and promoting his television soundtracks.
A significant breakthrough in archival efforts occurred in 2017 with the rediscovery of Guaraldi's original master recordings for the 1969 feature film A Boy Named Charlie Brown. This led to Concord’s 2018 announcement of a long-awaited It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown soundtrack. However, as the original master tapes remained missing, the album had to be sourced from television broadcast audio, leading to some disappointment. During the COVID-19 lockdown, following Lee Mendelson's passing in December 2019, his children discovered the original 1966 analog session reels, which contained nearly all of Guaraldi's original music cues and alternate takes. This discovery enabled a more complete 2022 re-release of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, followed by remastered soundtracks produced by Jason and Sean Mendelson for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (2023), It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown and You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown (both 2024) and Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown (2025) under the Lee Mendelson Film Productions label. Additionally, It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown is slated for release in March 2025. The rediscovery of these materials marked a critical step in addressing the archival challenges that had historically impeded broader distribution of Guaraldi's work. Unlike his 1960s recordings, which were produced in mono for television, his Peanuts compositions from the 1970s were recorded in stereo, making them more suitable for remastering and commercial release.

### Recognition and cultural impact

On November 18, 2021, A Charlie Brown Christmas was ranked as the No. 1 Greatest Holiday 200 Album of All Time by Billboard. In May 2022, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album quintuple platinum, recognizing sales exceeding five million copies. This achievement established it as the second-best-selling jazz album of all time, surpassed only by Miles Davis's Kind of Blue (1959). In recognition of its artistic and cultural 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, frequently reissued—particularly on vinyl—underscored the album's enduring relevance.

## Legacy

The revival of Vince Guaraldi's music has been driven by tribute albums, archival rediscoveries, and growing recognition of his contributions to the Peanuts franchise, which established a musical identity that was both sophisticated and widely accessible. Although the absence of a formal recording contract, misplaced master tapes, and skepticism within the jazz community initially impeded preservation efforts, dedicated archival work and sustained public enthusiasm have ensured the survival of his compositions. Guaraldi's Peanuts scores remain among the most recognizable and influential works in television music history. His distinctive blend of jazz and lighthearted melodies became inseparable from Charles M. Schulz's beloved characters, shaping the franchise’s sound for generations. With ongoing restoration projects and scheduled releases through 2025, Guaraldi's legacy remains deeply embedded in both jazz and popular culture.
Lee Mendelson reflected on Guaraldi's influence, remarking, "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."
A book-length biography of 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. 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.
In the original 1964 liner notes for Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Ralph J. Gleason observed that while self-expression is fundamental to art, a greater challenge lies in interpreting and responding to another artist's work while preserving one's own creative identity. He credited Guaraldi with successfully achieving this in his Peanuts compositions, noting that Guaraldi effectively translated Charles M. Schulz's artistic vision into music that was both empathetic to the imagery and unmistakably his own.
In his review of The Definitive Vince Guaraldi (2009), All About Jazz critic David Rickert credited Guaraldi with introducing many listeners to jazz, often before they consciously recognized the genre. Rickert highlighted Guaraldi's Peanuts television soundtracks as an innovative approach to cartoon scoring that seamlessly complemented the sophisticated yet accessible narratives of Peanuts. He further praised Guaraldi’s original compositions as among the finest jazz works to emerge from the West Coast scene, attributing their success to the fusion of artistic inspiration and compositional talent.

### Documentary

The 2010 documentary The Anatomy of Vince Guaraldi premiered at various jazz and film festivals, showcasing newly discovered and restored footage of Guaraldi’s performances and recording sessions. The film featured new interpretations and commentary from artists including George Winston, Dave Brubeck, Dick Gregory, Jon Hendricks, Leonard Maltin, and Paul Krassner, as well as surviving Guaraldi collaborators Eddie Duran, Dean Reilly, and Jerry Granelli. Co-produced by Toby Gleason (son of Ralph J. Gleason) and filmmaker Andrew Thomas, the documentary received five "Best Documentary" awards and was a featured presentation at the Library of Congress and the Monterey Jazz Festival. Reflecting on Guaraldi's influence, Gleason remarked, "Let’s just agree that Vince Guaraldi re-invented the sound of the modern American Christmas."

## Sidemen and trio configurations

Throughout his career, Guaraldi collaborated with a diverse array of sidemen, though he primarily favored performing in a trio. The ensemble occasionally expanded to accommodate specific musical demands, including live performances and Peanuts soundtracks. His largest recorded ensemble appeared in 1969 for the soundtracks of It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown (decet) and A Boy Named Charlie Brown (septet).
For bass and double bass, Guaraldi regularly worked with Monty Budwig, Dean Reilly, Fred Marshall, and Tom Beeson throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1970s, he primarily performed with Seward McCain, alongside occasional collaborations with Koji Kataoka.
Guitarist Eddie Duran was a frequent collaborator during the 1950s and 1960s, except between 1963 and 1965, when Guaraldi partnered with guitarist Bola Sete in a dual act. In the 1970s, Guaraldi occasionally played guitar himself but did not maintain a dedicated guitarist.
Guaraldi’s first two albums were recorded without a drummer. From 1961 onward, Colin Bailey assumed the role, followed by Jerry Granelli. During the 1970s, Mike Clark became Guaraldi’s primary drummer for live performances. 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 featured Dean Reilly (bass) and Eddie Duran (guitar) and appeared on his first two albums. The first of two "classic" trio configurations included Monty Budwig (bass) and Colin Bailey (drums), performing on Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus and Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown. The second "classic" trio, featuring Fred Marshall (double bass) and Jerry Granelli (drums), recorded more albums than any other iteration, 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.

### 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: Original Soundtrack | Fantasy | Trio; with Fred Marshall (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums); various others on some tracks; reissued in 2022 as five-disc set with remastered stereo mix, original stereo mix, previously unheard outtakes from five recording sessions, Blu-ray with high-resolution, Dolby Atmos audio as A Charlie Brown Christmas: Super Deluxe Edition |
| 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 | Trio; with Peter Marshall (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums); Septet; with Conte Candoli (trumpet), Milton Bernhart (trombone), Herb Ellis (guitar), Monty Budwig (double bass), Jack Sperling (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 | Trio; with Peter Marshall (bass), Jerry Granelli (drums); Septet; with Conte Candoli (trumpet), Milton Bernhart (trombone), Herb Ellis (guitar), Monty Budwig (double bass), Jack Sperling (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 (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 | Peak chart positions | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | B-side | Year | Hot 100 | MOR | Holiday 100 | Album |
| "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" | 1964 | — | — | — | Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete and Friends |
| "Oh, Good Grief" | "Linus and Lucy" | 1964 | — | — | — | 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" | 1965 | — | — | — | 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" | 1967 | — | — | — | Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus |
| "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 | A Charlie Brown Christmas |
| "O Tannenbaum" | — | 2019 | — | — | 29 | A Charlie Brown Christmas |
| "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
## 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: Original Soundtrack Recording (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 (electric 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 (electric 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 (electric 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 (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 (eletric 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 | Trio/Septet; 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) |