Chuck Mangione was an American jazz musician, composer, and flugelhorn/trumpet virtuoso whose 1977 instrumental “Feels So Good” became a smooth-jazz anthem. With a warm, lyrical style, he earned two Grammys and international fame, blending accessibility with artistry across a career spanning over five decades.
| Full Name | Charles Frank Mangione |
|---|---|
| Born | November 29, 1940 – Rochester, New York, USA |
| Died | July 24, 2025 (age 84) |
| Profession | Musician, Composer, Flugelhorn Player |
| Famous For | Hit single “Feels So Good” (1977) |
| Genres | Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Easy Listening |
| Career Highlights | 4 Grammy Nominations, Composed for 1980 Winter Olympics |
| Instruments | Flugelhorn, Trumpet |
| Education | Eastman School of Music |
| Personal Life | Known for his signature hat and emotional melodies |
Early Life
He born on November 29, 1940, in Rochester, New York, he grew up in a musical Italian-American family. His parents were jazz enthusiasts who had own a grocery store. He started piano at age 8 and trumpet at age 10. Jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie often visited his home. Chuck attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester from 1958 to 1963, where he earned his degree and later returned as a jazz instructor. He played music instruments in high school in sessions with Dizzy Gillespie (jazz trumpeter) and Miles Davis (trumpeter, bandleader and composer).
Career
The Jazz Brothers & Early Work
In the early 1960s, Chuck co-led “The Jazz Brothers” with his sibling Gap Mangione, releasing several albums. His composition “Something Different” was notably recorded by Cannonball Adderley. He released more than 30 albums in 1960s and also appeared in various television shows including King of the Hill, Magnum, P.I. and Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Elephant Show on CBC. He was also a member of the National Gallery, a band. He was director of the Eastman jazz ensemble from 1968 to 1972.
Blakey’s Jazz Messengers
Mangione joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, stepping into a role once filled by legends like Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan, honing his skills in the hard bop world. He composed the soundtrack for the film The Children of Sanchez starring Anthony Quinn.
Breakthrough & Grammy Success
His 1970 album Friends & Love featured the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and was Grammy-nominated. He won his first Grammy in 1977 for “Bellavia,” dedicated to his mother. His song “Chase the Clouds Away” was used in the 1976 Olympics.
Feels So Good & Mainstream Popularity
Chuck’s 1977 album Feels So Good became a global hit, with its title track peaking at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album sold millions and became a staple of smooth jazz and adult contemporary radio.
Children of Sanchez & Later Work
His 1978 album Children of Sanchez earned him another Grammy. The track “Give It All You Got” from his 1979 album was used as the official theme of the 1980 Winter Olympics. He released over 30 albums and retired around 2015. He had two children.
Pop Culture
Chuck appeared as himself in the animated series King of the Hill, becoming known to a younger audience with a running gag around his “Feels So Good” track.
Known for
Chuck Mangione’s most popular songs include the timeless jazz-pop instrumental “Feels So Good” (1977), which became a global hit and charted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other standout tracks from his career include “Children of Sanchez”, an emotional, Grammy-winning composition; “Give It All You Got”, used during the 1980 Winter Olympics; “Chase the Clouds Away”, featured in the 1976 Olympics; and “Bellavia”, a heartfelt tribute to his mother that won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition. These songs exemplify Mangione’s signature blend of warm flugelhorn melodies, smooth orchestration, and crossover jazz appeal.
Personal Life
Mangione lived his life in Rochester, New York, where he was born and later passed away. He was known for being humble, generous, and loyal to his roots. He donated many of his musical items, including his signature brown felt hat, to the Smithsonian. He married with Rosemarie Mangione who was a performer, passed away in May 2015 at age 76. They had two daughters, Nancy and Diana.
Death
Chuck Mangione passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 22, 2025, at the age of 84 in Rochester. His death was confirmed by family and his official website.
Family Statement
“The family of Chuck Mangione is deeply saddened to share that Chuck peacefully passed away in his sleep at his home in Rochester, New York on July 22, 2025.”
“It was a bit of a surprise so we’re all taking a beat in letting the family know,” said Ardis Lindley, Mangione’s niece.
“My uncle Chuck has been to every major American city in the United States,” Lindley said.
Legacy
Chuck Mangione’s music bridged generations, mixing jazz sophistication with accessible melodies. From jazz clubs to Olympic ceremonies, his sound was the soundtrack of many lives and continues to resonate worldwide.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
In 1980, our daughter, Julia McKenzie, Violinist, a senior in high school, was chosen to play with Chuck Mangione’s band in Berkeley, California. She always remembers the “Thrill of being on stage with Mr. Mangione and his band.”
Now, Julie is a violin teacher at her studio in West Roxbury, Massachusetts, near Boston.
She is a member of Boston Baroque, Handel-Haydyn Society, and other chamber groups.
(Please see Julia McKenzie, Violinist, websites.)
A few years ago, my friend and I attended a concert by Mr. Mangione at Lincoln Theater in Yountville, California. (Sorry about sparse attendance.)
* Last week, July 23, 2025, Julie visited us in Napa, California, and the moment she arrived, we played Chuck’s CD. Her face lit up, and she joyfully told the story of her “wonderful experience playing in Chuck Mangione’s band!”