On Dec. 9th, 1965 - 50 years ago - nearly half of the US population tuned in to A Charlie Brown Christmas (Album Official) by Charles Schultz, an animated broadcast that featured the music of the Vince Guaraldi Trio . Here is Jerry Granelli, the only surviving member of the original trio performing 'A Charlie Brown Christmas Theme, Linus', from the CBC Music archives. | CBC Music

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a 1965 animated television special, and is the first TV special based on the comic strip Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz. Produced by Lee Mendelson and directed by Bill Melendez, the program made its debut on CBS on December 9, 1965. In this special, Charlie Brown finds himself depressed despite the onset of the cheerful holiday season. Lucy suggests he direct a neighborhood Christmas play, but his best efforts are ignored and mocked by his peers. After Linus tells Cha