Vince Guaraldi Birthday – Vince Guaraldi was born on July 17, 1928 in San Francisco, California, USA. His family was of Italian descent, and he began playing piano at a young age.
He got his start in music by performing in various bands and clubs in the San Francisco area in the 1950s. In 1963, he was commissioned to write and record the music for the television special “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which became an instant classic and introduced Guaraldi’s unique blend of jazz, pop, and Latin music to a wider audience. Guaraldi continued to record and perform until his death on February 6, 1976 at the age of 47.
It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown
It Was My Best Birthday Ever, Charlie Brown is the 38th animated television special based on characters from the Charles M. Schulz comic strip Peanuts. It is one of two direct-to-video Peanuts specials that have yet to air on U.S. TV.
The special begins with Linus roller-skating all over town. On his way back from a birthday party, he passes by a garden where he hears someone singing (“O Mio Babbino Caro”) As he enters the garden, he learns that a little girl named Mimi is the person that was singing. After Linus and Mimi spend time gardening together, Linus invites her to his birthday party, and she accepts the invitation.
Linus keeps hearing Mimi’s singing voice everywhere he goes and can’t seem to stop thinking about her. As Linus is writing his guest list for his birthday party, Lucy asks who Mimi is. After Linus tells her, Lucy thinks that it’s ridiculous that Linus is inviting a girl that he just met and thinks Mimi will not show up, but Linus is positive that she will.
On the day of Linus’ birthday party, Linus wonders where Mimi could be. Lucy and Sally bring out Linus’ birthday cake and light the candles, and everybody starts singing “Happy Birthday” to him. Linus tries to get them to stop, but to no avail. As soon as everybody finishes singing, Linus hears Mimi singing “Happy Birthday” from outside. After Mimi finishes singing to Linus, she gives him a flower and a kiss. At first, Linus is sad when Mimi has to leave, but he later starts dancing along with everyone else.
The end of the special shows Linus talking to Charlie Brown about if he’ll ever see Mimi again and Woodstock shows up, whistling the song that Mimi sang.
This show came out 21 years after the death of Vince Guaraldi, so it doesn’t contain any new music, but it does use the Linus & Lucy theme.
Forrest Kinney has recorded Happy Birthday, Vince Guaraldi style. Check it out, it’s good!
Vince Guaraldi shares his birthday with these jazz musicians:
- Abe Laboriel
- Alvester Garnett
- Amit Gothivarekar
- Anat Cohavi
- Audric Jankauskas
- Ayal Tsubery
- Barbara Cadet
- Ben Riley
- Bill Meyer
- Brandon Goodwin
- Byron Wallen
- Chico Freeman
- Coto Pincheira
- Danny Bank
- Eddie Dougherty
- Geordie Hormel
- George Barnes
- Giles Thornton
- Guru Jazzmatazz
- Ivan Valentini
- Jason Raso
- Jeryl Johnston
- Jimmy Scott
- Joanie Pallatto
- Joe Morello
- Judith Miller
- Julia Hulsmann
- Julian Schneemann
- Julphan Tilapornputt
- Karl Nerenberg
- Katharine Katchie Cartwright
- Liberty Ellman
- Lionel Ferbos
- Margie Evans
- Mary Osborne
- Melvin Jones
- Nat Steele
- Nick Brignola
- Norman Hedman
- Olcay Saral
- Olivia Revueltas
- Paul Cutlan
- Paul Fox
- Phoebe Snow
- Prawit Siriwat
- Reggie Nicholson
- Rick Eldridge
- Robert Campbell
- Sarah Maisel
- Sebastian Cruz
- Sonny Morgan
- Steve Treseler
- Terri Carter
- Thomas M Borino
- Tom Pickles
- Vladan
- Wilfred Roland Middlebrooks