Chuck Mangione, whose soulful flugelhorn and funky composition helped shape the face of contemporary jazz, has died. He was 84 years old.
The two-time Grammy Award winner was born in Rochester, New York, and studied at the Eastman School of Music, where he switched from trumpet to the mellower sound of the flugelhorn. In the 1960s, he refined his skills in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, a position once held by masters such as Clifford Brown and Freddie Hubbard, before blossoming into his own solo work in the ’70s. It was during this time that he became a musical icon, scoring five top 100 hits —a rare feat for instrumental jazz in any era.
Mangione was also a cultural phenomenon due to his distinctive style, characterized by a beard and long hair covered by a fedora. The album cover for 1977’s ‘Feels So Good’ stands out in record stores even to this day. The flugelhorn master was also featured in the hit TV series King of the Hill, where he played himself in a running gag as the spokesman for Mega Lo Mart.
Today, we’re remembering Chuck Mangione with 10 songs from his extensive catalog.
10. ‘Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor’
This track from 1973’s ‘Land of Make Believe’ became a signature piece for Mangione thanks to its infectious, Latin-influenced groove. Recorded with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, its drum intro made it a popular piece for marching bands like the Blue Devils.
9. ‘Cannonball Run Theme’
Mangione’s contribution to the soundtrack for the 1981 film ‘Cannonball Run’ encapsulates his sound with an easy-feeling groove and a catchy melody on the flugelhorn.
8. ‘Land of Make Believe’
The title track from his 1973 release was nominated for a Grammy and is widely regarded as a classic in the world of fusion. The long-form jazz-pop suite became a staple of his catalog, particularly when he performed with symphonic orchestras. The arrangement is unique in its blend of the orchestra with open solo sections for improvisation. It’s also one of the few vocal songs in his repertoire, featuring singer Esther Satterfield.
7. ‘Fun and Games’
Part of what made Mangione’s music so special was that he made jazz accessible to average music lovers. The title track from 1979’s ‘Fun and Games’ is another great example of just that. It begins with a funky, thumping bass line that also introduces the melody. After adding some guitar rhythm, Mangione joins in on the melody for a feel-good bop.
6. ‘Hill Where the Lord Hides’
Mangione once again showed off his arranging skills with ‘Hill Where the Lord Hides,’ which takes the big band format and gives it a contemporary spin. Be sure to check out this spirited version from a 1979 episode of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
5. ‘Bellavia’
‘Bellavia’ won Mangione his first Grammy. The beautiful track was deeply personal to the artist, who wrote it for his mother.
‘Bellavia is a song I found in me that feels like my mother. It’s my Mother’s Day gift to her,’ he wrote in the album liner notes. ‘In fact, all the music in this album is seasoned with a spirit much like the festive feelings that have touched everyone who has known my parents. Since I find it impossible (although they wouldn’t) to have you travel to their home for Mom’s spaghetti sauce and Dad’s home-made Italian sausage, I offer instead this music as a way of introducing them to you.’
4. ‘Chase the Clouds Away’
‘Chase the Clouds Away‘ was released in 1975, but it gained international recognition when it was featured during the 1976 Summer Olympics broadcast. Its optimistic mood and pensive chord changes made it celebrated for capturing the feelings of hope and possibility. It has since become a go-to for contemplative playlists.
3. ‘Children of Sanchez’
Mangione’s ambitious double album soundtrack for the film ‘Children of Sanchez’ won him another Grammy for the title track. Sung by Don Potter, the song is another example of Mangione’s compositional prowess, blending emotional depth with cinematic expansiveness. The song begins with Potter accompanied by just guitar before aggressive drums introduce the rest of the orchestra. Mangione’s Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance was clearly deserved, as his chops are on full display.
2. ‘Give It All You Got’
After the success of ‘Chase the Clouds Away’ during the 1976 Olympics, Mangione was tapped to compose a theme for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The resulting song was ‘Give It All You Got.’
‘[My] vision was to think about the athletes and their efforts to do their best now,’ Mangione said. ‘They’re giving it all they’ve got. And we almost got to be like the athletes because we also got to perform the song at the ceremonies for a worldwide audience.’
The song reached number one on the Billboard adult contemporary chart and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1981 for Best Instrumental Composition. It was beat out only by John Williams for the score to ‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.’
1. ‘Feels So Good’
Far and away, Mangione will always be remembered for his hit ‘Feels So Good.’ His signature song was his biggest crossover hit and reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100, bringing jazz fusion into the mainstream. The joyful song features the mellow sounds of the flugelhorn and a sunny vibe. It became a cultural touchstone that’s been referenced in ‘King of the Hill,’ ‘Friends,’ and even Marvel’s ‘Doctor Strange.’
The song helped to launch smooth jazz, which is a style sometimes frowned upon by other parts of the jazz community. Mangione dismissed the haters in a 1988 interview with The LA Times.
‘I’ve read all the reviews, from the ones that say you’re the greatest thing since sliced bread to the others who say they left at intermission,’ he said. ‘This kind of thing happened to Cannonball Adderley, who incidentally produced my first album in 1960; it happened to Herbie Hancock and a lot of other people. I don’t respond to pressure from record companies or critics; my reviewers are the audiences, and besides, my only severe critic is me.’
