Chuck Mangione, the internationally acclaimed jazz musician best known for his 1978 hit “Feels So Good,” has passed away at the age of 84. He died of natural causes at his home in Rochester, New York, surrounded by close family members.
Mangione was a celebrated flugelhorn and trumpet player whose career spanned more than 60 years. A native of Rochester, he began his musical journey as a teenager, forming The Jazz Brothers with his sibling, pianist Gap Mangione. The duo gained early recognition for their dynamic compositions and energetic performances in the 1960s, laying the foundation for Chuck’s successful solo career.
His biggest commercial breakthrough came in 1978 with the smooth jazz instrumental “Feels So Good,” a track that became a cultural phenomenon. The song peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. Its catchy melody and Mangione’s distinctive tone helped bring jazz to mainstream American radio. The album of the same name also topped jazz and pop charts, solidifying his status as a crossover artist.
Over the decades, Mangione released more than 30 albums, many of which featured a fusion of jazz, pop, and classical elements. He was awarded multiple Grammy nominations throughout his career and won two Grammy Awards one for Best Instrumental Composition and another for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
In 2012, Mangione was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame, a fitting tribute to his influence on the music world and his hometown.
Beyond music, Mangione became a pop culture icon with his recurring animated role as himself in the popular TV series King of the Hill, where he humorously played a caricature of his persona.
Mangione's music touched generations, and his legacy lives on through his timeless recordings and enduring influence on jazz and contemporary instrumental music.
