Washington D.C. [US], July 25 – Chuck Mangione, the beloved Grammy-winning musician whose smooth pop-jazz instrumental “Feels So Good” became a ubiquitous hit, has passed away at the age of 84. The news of the jazz maestro’s death was widely reported by several outlets from his native Rochester, New York. WROC-TV in Rochester confirmed that the Bartolomeo & Perreto Funeral Home stated Mangione died peacefully in his sleep at home on Tuesday.
A Storied Career: From Jazz Ensembles to Olympic Anthems
Mangione, a distinguished flugelhorn and trumpet player, garnered two Grammy Awards from an impressive 14 nominations throughout a career that spanned 30 albums. Beyond his significant musical achievements, he was also fondly recognized for his recurring role portraying a fictionalized version of himself on the popular animated television series, ‘King of the Hill.’
His signature track, “Feels So Good,” became a monumental success in 1978, soaring to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning a prestigious nomination for Record of the Year at the Grammys. This widespread acclaim led to a commission for Mangione to compose and perform “Give It All You Got,” the memorable theme song for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
Born in Rochester on November 29, 1940, Mangione began his musical journey at the age of eight, initially with the piano. However, a viewing of the film ‘Young Man With a Horn’ inspired him to switch instruments. He formed his first jazz band during high school alongside his pianist brother, Gap. Mangione was a proud graduate of the Eastman School of Music, class of 1963, where he later returned to contribute as a teacher and director of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble.
Mangione’s solo career truly began to flourish with the 1970 release of Friends & Love… A Chuck Mangione Concert. Recorded at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester, this album earned him a Grammy nomination in 1971. A single from the album, “Hill Where the Lord Hides,” marked his first appearance on the Billboard Hot 100. He later moved to the A&M label with the 1975 album Chase the Clouds Away, whose title track was famously used at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. His first Grammy Award came for the 1976 album Bellavia, and he received his second Grammy for the soundtrack of The Children of Sanchez, which also garnered him a Golden Globe nomination in 1978.