Chuck Mangione, the Grammy-winning jazz bandleader and flugelhorn player best known for the crossover hit “Feels So Good,” has died at the age of 84. Mangione passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Rochester, New York, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025[2][3][4].
Born in Rochester in 1940, Mangione started his music career performing with his brother Gap and later played trumpet for Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. He gained national prominence through his work as a composer and performer, earning his first Grammy with “Bellavia” in 1977 and another for the soundtrack to “The Children of Sanchez” in 1978[1][3].
His 1977 album “Feels So Good” propelled him to household-name status. The title track, featuring Mangione on flugelhorn, reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a staple on smooth-jazz radio. The album itself peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, just behind the “Saturday Night Fever” soundtrack, and was certified double-platinum[1][2].
Beyond his musical achievements, Mangione was known for contributing “Give It All You Got” to the 1980 Winter Olympics and for his recurring voice role on the animated series “King of the Hill.”[2] He retired in 2015 but left a lasting legacy through his mentorship of young musicians and substantial donations to the Smithsonian, including his signature felt hat and career memorabilia[2].
In 2009, tragedy struck when two members of his band died in the crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407. Despite personal and professional challenges, Mangione remained a towering figure in jazz, inspiring several generations before his passing[2].
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