Remembering Chuck Mangione
Chuck Mangione, a two-time Grammy-winning musician, rose to fame in 1977 with the smooth jazz hit “Feels So Good.” He also lent his voice to a character on the animated series “King of the Hill.” Mangione passed away at the age of 84, peacefully in his sleep at his home in Rochester, New York, as confirmed by Peter S. Matlin from Beldok Levine and Hoffman LLP. The artist had been retired since 2015.
His signature track, “Feels So Good,” has become a classic on smooth jazz radio, often compared to the Beatles’ “Michelle” for its recognizability. The song climbed to fourth place on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts.
In his own words from a 2008 interview with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, he reflected on the unexpected success of his music: “Despite having a rather strong basic audience that we had been hoping for and often toured, the song just came out there and took it to a completely different level.” This sort of humble reflection is, perhaps, part of what made him appeal to so many.
Following “Feels So Good,” he produced “Give It All You Got,” which debuted at the 1980 Winter Olympics and was played during the closing ceremony. Over his career, Mangione released over 30 albums, and it’s clear he built a devoted fan base through his extensive catalog of work.
His first Grammy came in 1977 for the album “Bellavia,” and another one of his albums, “Friends and Love,” also received a nomination. He even garnered a Golden Globe nomination for his original score in the film “The Children of Sanchez.”
An interesting shift in his career occurred when he appeared in the early seasons of “King of the Hill,” introducing him to a new audience. Mangione, who was the younger brother of jazz pianist Gap Mangione, began as a Bebop jazz musician, drawing significant influence from Dizzy Gillespie.
He often engaged with his audiences, making connections by explaining what he was going to play and sharing insights about his band. Mangione also earned a degree from the Eastman School of Music, later returning as the director of the jazz ensemble. As for his legacy, he even donated his iconic Brownfelt hat along with scores from his Grammy-winning hit.
