On Tuesday, July 22, Grammy-winning Jazz musician Chuck Mangione peacefully passed away in his sleep at his home in Rochester, New York, according to Rochester First, which reported the news today. Mangione was 84 years old. Born in 1940, Mangione was a Rochester native and attended the Eastman School of Music, the school he would where he would later serve as the faculty director of the college’s Jazz Orchestra.
Videos by American Songwriter
Prior to becoming an educator, Chuck Mangione was a trailblazing Jazz musician and a crucial figure in the contemporary Jazz movement. During his career, Mangione won two Grammy Awards and charted on the Billboard Hot 100 five times. Notably, Mangione’s 1977 single, “Feels So Good”, peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and his 1979 single, “Give It All You Got”, peaked at No. 18. Concerning the Billboard 200, Mangione had 17 albums peak on the chart, with Feels So Good being his highest ranking album with a No. 2 position.
Other fun facts about Mangione’s career include his recurring appearance on The King of the Hill and his association with the Olympic Games, which played his track “Chase the Clouds Away” in 1976 and had him perform “Give It All You Got” at the Winter Games in 1980.
The Official Statements From Chuck Mangione’s Peers
Bob Sneider, an Eastman Jazz faculty member and former tour mate of Mangione, stated, “Chuck Mangione was a larger-than-life composer, trumpet and flugelhorn player, band-leader, recording artist and mentor. He inspired generations of kids to play instruments in a variety of musical styles.” “Chuck was instrumental in growing the jazz department at the Eastman School of Music. He directed the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and was a big part of the famed Arranger’s holiday,” per Rochester First.
Furthermore, co-producers of the Rochester International Jazz Festival, Marc Iacona and John Nugent, also provided a heartfelt statement to the outlet, which ended with, “Chuck’s music will continue to echo through the hearts of fans near and far. His legacy will forever be a part of the spirit of Rochester and the soul of jazz.”
Given his peers’ comments and his role as Eastman’s first faculty director of the Jazz Orchestra, Chuck Mangione was not just a major charting artist. He was also an integral part of Rochester, New York’s music community.
Photo by Gary Gershoff/Getty Images
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.