Chuck Mangione, the famous flugelhorn player and composer, has passed away at the age of 84. His family shared the news on July 24. They described his love for music as full of energy and joy, noting how he often stayed after concerts to sign autographs for fans.
Mangione was best known for hits like “Feels So Good” and “Land Of Make Believe.” Over his 50-year career, he gained fame in both jazz and pop music, winning two Grammy Awards. He also made guest appearances on several TV shows, including memorable episodes of King Of The Hill. In 2000, he released a song called “Peggy Hill” on his album Everything For Love.
Born on November 29, 1940, in Rochester, New York, Mangione graduated from the Eastman School Of Music. He started his career with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and later formed the Jazz Brothers with his brother Gap. His big break came in the 1970s when his song “Chase the Clouds Away” was featured in the 1976 Summer Olympics. His track “Bellavia” won him his first Grammy, and “Feels So Good” became a massive hit, appearing in shows like The Big Bang Theory and Friends.
In the 1980s, Mangione composed music for the Winter Olympics and continued to tour. After taking a break in 1989, he returned to music after the passing of his friend Dizzy Gillespie in 1994. Although he didn’t release new albums after 2000, he remained a beloved figure in music. In 2009, he donated memorabilia to the Smithsonian and was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall Of Fame in 2012.
