Skating

This time of year, it's impossible to go anywhere without hearing, at least once, the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas.  The jazz-soaked tunes are the work of Vince Guaraldi, a pianist known as Dr. Funk from San Francisco, CA.  He had some previous acclaim in 1963, winning a Grammy for Best Instrumental Jazz Composition for Cast Your Fate to the Wind, which became an instant hit.

The Peanut's connection was formed when Guaraldi was hired to write a score for a TV documentary called A Boy Named Charlie Brown.  Through this, Guaraldi met Charles Schulz (the author of the Peanut's comic strip), director Lee Mendelson, and artist Bill Melendez.  Unfortunately, in true Charlie Brown irony, the documentary never aired, but it did lead to the Christmas special, thanks to some attention from sponsor Coca-Cola.  The TV special finally aired in 1965 on CBS, though production was pessimistic about the jazzy soundtrack, worrying that they'd "ruined Charlie Brown."

However, it has now become a yearly tradition for many families, and the smooth jazz from the Vince Guaraldi Trio is (usually) a welcome change to the often cloying, melodramatic Christmas music I must endure for nearly two months every holiday season. 

Happy winter solstice!!!