Chuck Mangione, ‘Feels So Good’ musician and bandleader, dead at 84

Chuck Mangione, the legendary jazz bandleader and musician known for his iconic hit “Feels So Good,” has passed away at the age of 84, as announced on his official website. Born in Rochester, New York, on November 29, 1940, Mangione began his musical journey performing with his brother Gaspare “Gap” Mangione as the Mangione Brothers. He later graduated from the prestigious Eastman School of Music and went on to play trumpet with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and various other ensembles.

One of Mangione’s notable accomplishments was the album “Friends & Love…A Chuck Mangione Concert,” recorded with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in 1970. His fame continued to rise with albums like “Chase the Clouds Away” in 1975 and the Grammy-winning “Bellavia” in 1977. However, it was his 1977 release “Feels So Good” that catapulted him to mainstream success. The title track, featuring Mangione on the flugelhorn, became a top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and the album achieved double-platinum status.

Following the success of “Feels So Good,” Mangione released several more albums, including the gold-selling soundtrack for “Children of Sanchez” in 1978, which earned him his second Grammy Award. His 1979 album “Fun and Games” produced the hit single “Give It All You Got,” garnering two Grammy nominations. Throughout his career, Mangione recorded over 30 albums, with his final release being “Everything for Love” in 2000.

Despite a decline in mainstream popularity in the later years, Mangione remained a cultural icon, even making appearances on the animated TV show “King of the Hill.” In 2012, he was rightfully inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame, where he shared his philosophy on music: “If you’re honest and play with love, people will sit down and listen … my music is the sum of all I have experienced.”

Chuck Mangione’s legacy as a pioneering jazz musician and bandleader will continue to inspire generations of music lovers around the world. His timeless music and unparalleled talent have left an indelible mark on the jazz genre, ensuring that his memory will live on through his extraordinary body of work.