Chuck Mangione facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chuck Mangione |
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Mangione in 1998
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charles Frank Mangione |
| Born | November 29, 1940 Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 22, 2025 (aged 84) Rochester, New York, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1960–2010 |
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Charles Frank Mangione (born November 29, 1940 – died July 22, 2025) was a famous American musician. He played the flugelhorn and trumpet, and he also wrote music.
Chuck Mangione became well-known in the 1960s. He played with a band called Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Later, he formed a group called the Jazz Brothers with his brother, Gap.
He became very famous around the world in 1978 with his hit song "Feels So Good". This song was a mix of jazz and pop music.
Chuck Mangione released over 30 music albums during his career. Many people also knew him from his appearances on the TV show King of the Hill.
Contents
Growing Up in Rochester
Chuck Mangione was born on November 29, 1940. He grew up in a city called Rochester, in New York. His parents were from Italy. His uncle, Jerre Mangione, was a writer.
Chuck Mangione's Music Career
Early Bands and Education
Chuck Mangione started his music journey in the 1960s. He played with a famous jazz band called Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.
Later, he and his brother, Gap, who played piano, formed their own groups. These groups were called the Mangione Brothers Sextet and Quintet. They recorded three albums together.
Chuck also wrote music. One of his songs, "Something Different," was recorded by another jazz legend, Cannonball Adderley.
Chuck studied music at the Eastman School of Music from 1958 to 1963. After that, he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He played the trumpet, following in the footsteps of many great musicians.
Becoming a Solo Artist
In the late 1960s, Chuck was part of a band called The National Gallery. They released an album inspired by the paintings of Paul Klee.
From 1968 to 1972, Chuck also directed the jazz ensemble at the Eastman School.
In 1970, he released his album Friends and Love. This album was recorded live with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Grammy Awards and Olympic Themes
Chuck's quartet, which included saxophonist Gerry Niewood, was very popular in the 1970s.
His song "Bellavia" won him his first Grammy Award in 1977. It was recognized as the Best Instrumental Composition.
"Bellavia" was even used as background music for school closings in Louisville, Kentucky, during a big snowstorm in 1978.
Chuck's music was also featured at the Olympics! His song "Chase the Clouds Away" was used at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Another one of his songs, "Give It All You Got," was the theme for the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York. He performed it live at the closing ceremony.
In 1978, Chuck wrote the music for the movie The Children of Sanchez. This soundtrack earned him his second Grammy Award in 1979.
The Hit Song "Feels So Good"
Chuck Mangione had a lot of success with his band in the late 1970s. The band included Chris Vadala on saxophones, Grant Geissman on guitars, Charles Meeks on bass, and James Bradley Jr. on drums.
They recorded popular albums like Feels So Good and Fun and Games.
The song "Feels So Good" became a huge hit in 1978. It was an instrumental song, meaning it had no singing, and it reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This was very rare for an instrumental song!
His band also performed with a 70-piece orchestra for a live album called An Evening of Magic. This concert was held at the Hollywood Bowl in 1978.
In 1980, Chuck organized a special concert in Rochester. It was a nine-hour event to help people affected by an earthquake in Italy. Many famous jazz musicians performed there.
His song "Feels So Good" was so well-known that a magazine called it one of the most recognized tunes since "Michelle" by The Beatles.
Chuck also helped raise over $50,000 for a nursing home at his 60th birthday concert.
Chuck Mangione on TV
Besides his music, Chuck Mangione also appeared on television!
He was in an episode of the show Magnum, P.I. where he played a musician.
In 1988, he appeared on the family TV show Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show. He played "Little Boy Blue" and performed his famous song.
Many people might remember him from the cartoon show King of the Hill. He played a cartoon version of himself! In the show, he was a spokesperson for a store called "Mega Lo Mart."
He even named a song "Peggy Hill" on his 2000 album, Everything For Love, as a tribute to the show.
Chuck Mangione's Passing
Chuck Mangione passed away peacefully at his home in Rochester on July 22, 2025. He was 84 years old.
Discography
- The Jazz Brothers as the Mangione Brothers Sextet with Chuck Mangione (Riverside, 1960)
- Hey Baby! as the Jazz Brothers with Chuck Mangione (Riverside, 1961)
- Spring Fever as the Jazz Brothers with Chuck Mangione, Sal Nistico (Riverside, 1961)
- Recuerdo (Jazzland, 1962)
- Friends & Love...A Chuck Mangione Concert (Mercury, 1970)
- Together: A New Chuck Mangione Concert (Mercury, 1971)
- Alive! (Mercury, 1972)
- The Chuck Mangione Quartet (Mercury, 1972)
- Land of Make Believe (Mercury, 1973)
- Chase the Clouds Away (A&M, 1975)
- Bellavia (A&M, 1975)
- Main Squeeze (A&M, 1976)
- Feels So Good (A&M, 1977)
- Children of Sanchez (A&M, 1978)
- Fun and Games (A&M, 1979)
- An Evening of Magic, Live at the Hollywood Bowl (A&M, 1979)
- Tarantella (A&M, 1981)
- Love Notes (Columbia, 1982)
- 70 Miles Young (A&M, 1982)
- Journey to a Rainbow (Columbia, 1983)
- Disguise (Columbia, 1984)
- Save Tonight for Me (Columbia, 1986)
- Eyes of the Veiled Temptress (Columbia, 1988)
- Live at the Village Gate (Feels So Good, 1989)
- The Boys from Rochester (Feels So Good, 1989)
- The Hat's Back (Chuck Mangione, 1994)
- Together Forever with Steve Gadd (Chuck Mangione, 1994)
- The Feeling's Back (Chesky, 1999)
- Everything for Love (Chesky, 2000)
See also
In Spanish: Chuck Mangione para niños
