Chuck Mangione, Smooth-Jazz Pioneer, Dies at 84
Legendary American flugelhornist and composer Chuck Mangione passed away peacefully in his sleep at his Rochester, New York home on July 22, 2025, at the age of 84.
A musical legend best known for his crossover hit ‘Feels So Good,’ Mangione helped define jazz-pop fusion and left an indelible impact on the genre.”
Born Charles Frank Mangione on November 29, 1940, in Rochester, he began his career studying at the Eastman School of Music — later becoming a faculty member and director of its jazz program.
He rose to prominence in the 1960s performing with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, and alongside his pianist brother Gap, co-led the Jazz Brothers, cementing his roots in hard-swing jazz.
His breakthrough arrived with the 1977 album Feels So Good, featuring the title track which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the adult contemporary chart in 1978.
The single’s melodic charm and accessibility made it omnipresent in public spaces and popular culture, from elevators and commercials to TV shows like Friends, The Simpsons, and King of the Hill, where Mangione voiced himself as the caricatured Mega Lo Mart spokesperson.
Mangione earned two Grammy Awards, winning in 1977 for Bellavia and again in 1979 for The Children of Sanchez, which also earned a Golden Globe nomination.
His compositions featured prominently in the 1976 Montreal Olympics (“Chase the Clouds Away”) and the 1980 Lake Placid Winter Games (“Give It All You Got”), which he performed live at the Closing Ceremony.
Across a six‑decade career, Mangione released over 30 albums, earning 14 Grammy nominations and influencing countless musicians with his blend of jazz, pop, and soul.
Despite some criticism of his smooth jazz style as overly cheerful or kitschy, critics like The Washington Post argued that he was no lightweight — Mangione had serious jazz credentials and never compromised on musical integrity: “I didn’t want to record something I didn’t like.
Fans and fellow musicians have flooded social media with tribute messages. On Reddit, one comment summed it up poignantly:
“Megalomart just got a little bit quieter. RIP king.”
Mangione retired around 2015 but remained actively involved in Rochester’s music education and youth outreach well into later years.
His family remembered him as a joyful and dedicated performer who shared his love of music with audiences around the world.