Chuck Mangione, the celebrated jazz flugelhornist, has passed away at the age of 83. His family announced his death on Saturday, though the cause and specific date were not disclosed. Mangione rose to international fame with his 1977 hit “Feels So Good,” a melody that was once described as “the most recognized melody as ‘Michelle’ of The Beatles.”
Mangione’s musical journey began in his hometown of Rochester, New York. He formed a band with his brother, pianist Gap Mangione, called “The Jazz Brothers,” with whom he recorded three albums. His father fostered his love for jazz, often hosting jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie for dinner. Mangione honed his skills at the prestigious Eastman School of Music from 1958 to 1963, a period crucial to his artistic and technical development.Following the success of “Feels So good,” Mangione composed other notable pieces, including “chase the Clouds Away,” which was adopted by the 1976 Olympic Games, and “Give It all You Got.” The latter was specifically written for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, where he performed it during the closing ceremony.
Throughout his career, Mangione garnered two Grammy awards out of fourteen nominations. His first Grammy came in 1977 for Best Instrumental Composition for “Bellavia,” a piece dedicated to his mother. In 1979, he received his second Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for “the Children of Sanchez.” The soundtrack for the film of the same name also earned a Golden Globe Award.
In the late 1990s, Mangione found a new audience when he made a guest appearance as himself on the animated series “King of the Hill.” He voiced a character representing the fictional mega-lo-Mart supermarket, delivering the slogan “Shopping feels So Good.” He also composed music for a 1998 Valentine’s Day special episode of the show.
Mangione’s performances in Spain in 1988 were met with enthusiasm, as noted in a chronicle by Jorge Flo for this newspaper. Flo highlighted Mangione’s ability to “manage his night,” creating an atmosphere that was “never rejected.” He described how Mangione would engage the audience by descending from the stage to play among them and invite couples to dance, all while his band continued to play. Flo also commented on Mangione’s distinctive style,noting his “gabanes,gabardines and the inevitable hat,” and how his “personality and music are made at irresistible moments.” The chronicle concluded by suggesting that many attendees left “in love with Mangione’s music. Or of him.”
