13 Facts About Jerry Granelli

Gerald John Granelli was an American-Canadian jazz drummer.

Jerry Granelli was best known for playing drums on the soundtrack A Charlie Brown Christmas with the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

Jerry Granelli was born to Jack and Ida Jerry Granelli in the Mission District of San Francisco on December 30,1940.

Jerry Granelli initially learned the violin for a year, before switching to drums.

Jerry Granelli was consequently involved with the city's hard bop scene from a young age.

Jerry Granelli toured jazz festivals and theaters with his show Tales of a Charlie Brown Christmas, which retells how the Charlie Brown Christmas TV special almost never came to be, on numerous fronts.

The live production featured clips from the TV special and Jerry Granelli talking about how all the pieces came together to create this unlikely classic Christmas special.

Jerry Granelli taught master classes on jazz composition at Vancouver Community College.

Jerry Granelli suffered a fall in December 2020 that resulted in internal bleeding.

Jerry Granelli spent three months recuperating in an intensive care unit before being discharged.

Jerry Granelli died seven months later on the morning of July 20,2021, at his home in Halifax.

Jerry Granelli was 80, and hosted a workshop for the Halifax Jazz Festival two days before his death.

Jerry Granelli is survived by his second wife Nina Sebolt of Halifax, a son, bassist J Anthony Granelli of Brooklyn, New York, another son, Vajra Granelli of Boulder, Colorado and a daughter, Alexis Granelli.