Chuck Mangione's 'Feels so good' made Jazz history: American trumpet player's biggest chart-topping hits revealed

Chuck Mangione, who had one of the biggest pop-jazz instrumental crossover hits of all time with “Feels So Good”, has passed away at the age of 71. Mangione was a well-known in the music world for being a top-tier trumpeter, flugelhorn player and composer.

According to TMZ, the American flugelhorn and trumpet player died this week at his home in Rochester, New York, his manager told the outlet. The report suggests Chuck Mangione died due to natural causes and the reason of the death has not been revealed.

Chuck Mangione bagged two Grammy Awards over his legendary career, the first in 1977 for best instrumental composition and the second in 1979 for best pop instrumental performance. His composition "Chase The Clouds Away" was featured at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, according to TMZ.


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His another composition "Give It All You Got" was the theme music for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY. Mangione won two Grammys, out of 14 nominations, in a career that spanned 30 albums. Beyond his musical success, the musician was also familiar to millions for his recurring voice role on the animated series “King of the Hill.”

Chuck Mangione's biggest hit

Chuck Mangione's biggest hit was his "Feels so Good" in 1978 and the album by the same name is regarded as one of the most successful jazz records of all time. He released more than 30 albums.

Chuck Mangione was born and raised in Rochester, New York, where he and his brother Gap were introduced to jazz through their father’s record collection. On weekends, the family would often venture into the city to hear legends like Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughan perform live.

“Their father would invite these amazing artists to come home with them for a good home-cooked Italian meal,” his website biography reads. “Of course, they were more than happy to eat home cooking after being on the road. Chuck grew up thinking everyone had Carmen McRae and Art Blakey over for dinner.”

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He and Gap eventually teamed up as The Jazz Brothers, and after graduating from the Eastman School of Music in 1963, Mangione later returned to help grow its jazz program.

In 1977, his album Feels So Good soared to No. 2 on the Billboard albums chart. Its title track became a crossover hit, featuring in everything from Fargo and Doctor Strange to a well-known Memorex commercial starring Ella Fitzgerald.

Mangione also had several Olympics connections; “Chase the Clouds Away” was used during the 1976 Games, while Mangione performed “Give It All You Got” at the closing ceremony of the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y.

He was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2012, and was the winner of two Grammys: best pop instrumental performance for Children of Sanchez in 1979, and best instrumental composition for “Bellavia,” written for his mother, in 1977.

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Chuck Mangione's top songs

Feels So Good

Hill Where The Lord Hides

Bellavia

Fun And Games

Children of Sanchez

Land of Make Believe

Give It All You Got

Chase The Clouds Away

Cannonball Run Theme

Doin' Everything With You