Legendary Jazz musician Chuck Mangione has died, his representative confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, making him the latest legend the entertainment world lost this week. The two-time Grammy winner broke into the music world in the sixties as part of Art Blakey’s Band, eventually partnering with his brother Gap Mangione on The Mangione Brothers.
As part of The Mangione Brothers, the legend released various jazz-flavored numbers, weaving his way into the hearts of Jazz lovers. He eventually released his hit single I Feel So Good in the late seventies, which skyrocketed him to global stardom. Mangione spent the next decades growing his career in the arts until his retirement in 2015.
Ten years after his retirement, Chuck Mangione eventually died at his home in Rochester, New York. His attorney, Peter S. Matorin of Beldock Levine & Hoffman LLP confirmed his death on Tuesday, July 22, revealing he died in his sleep. His cause of death has been attributed to natural causes. He was 84.
Chuck Mangione’s Life and Legacy
Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Chuck Mangione grew up with his Italian-American parents, both of whom had great interests in jazz. His upbringing in a family of music lovers set him on his path to lyrical stardom. From a young age, he embraced the arts, taking music lessons in elementary school with a focus on piano, and later switching to the trumpet. Teaming with his brother Gap, the Mangiones started a band in high school, playing numbers inspired by Dizzy Gillespie.
He furthered his musical studies by enrolling in the Eastman School of Music in 1958, where he mastered the flugelhorn. Following his graduation in 1963, Mangione joined the Jazz Messengers as the trumpeter. He later became a part of the National Gallery band, also serving as the director of the Eastman Jazz Ensemble from 1968 to 1972. Chuck Mangione snagged his first Grammy Award in 1977 for the album, Bellavia, named in honor of his mom. He earned his second Grammy two years later for a soundtrack he composed for the movie, The Children of Sanchez.
While he remains best known for his 1977 hit It Feels Good, Chuck Mangione gained fame in the movie and TV scenes as well before he died. He made notable appearances in shows like as Magnum, P.I., and Lois & Bram’s Elephant Show, which aired on CBC.
Additionally, he snagged a role in the animated series, King of the Hill, recurring as a fictional version of himself as the celebrity spokesman for the “Mega Lo Mart.” He later dedicated the track Peggy Hill, from his 2000 album, as homage to the cartoon series. Chuck Mangione was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2012, having made impressive strides as a Jazz musician and entertainer. He leaves behind his two daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
