Vincent Anthony Guaraldi 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“. He is also known for his performances on piano as a member of Cal Tjader‘s 1950s ensembles and for his own solo career. His 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 sudden heart attack in February 1976 at age 47, moments after concluding a nightclub performance in Menlo Park, California.

Guaraldi was born in San Francisco’s North Beach area, a place that became very important to his blossoming musical career. 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. 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. He graduated from Lincoln High School, briefly attended San Francisco State College, and served in the United States Army as a cook in Korea from 1946 to 1948. Guaraldi died suddenly on February 6, 1976,^[37] at age 47 after suffering a massive 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 Peanutsmusic 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.”