Kunzel made most of his classical music recordings as director of the Cincinnati Pops. However, he also made jazz recordings with Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, and other well-known artists. From the Capitol Building lawn, Kunzel conducted the National Symphony Orchestra every Memorial Day and Fourth of July from 1991 to 2009, in concerts televised nationwide on PBS. In 1987, his Aaron Copland: "Lincoln Portrait" (CD-80117) album with narration by Katharine Hepburn including "Old American Songs" sung by Sherrill Milnes received a Grammy nomination. Other Grammy nominations came in 1989 ("A Disney Spectacular"), 1991 ("Meredith Willson's The Music Man"), and 1993 ("Amen!--A Gospel Celebration"). The album "American Jubilee" won the Grand Prix du Disque in 1989. His albums frequently feature digital sound effects created by Michael Bishop.