Chuck Mangione, the Grammy-winning flugelhorn and trumpet player and prolific jazz musician known for songs including "Feels So Good" and "Children of Sanchez," has died. Mangione died in his sleep Tuesday in his home in Rochester, N.Y., his manager Peter S. Matorin confirmed to The Times on Thursday. He was 84. The New York native, over the course of his career which began in the 1960s, earned a reputation as a stylish, lyrically smart trumpeter and played alongside jazz giants Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Sam Jones, Ron Carter and Kai Winding. He also collected 14 Grammy nominations, notably winning two prizes: one for his smooth "Bellavia" in 1977 and another a year later for the titular anthem he composed for the 1978 drama "The Children of Sanchez." Read more:Seven can't-miss newcomers keeping the spirit of jazz going Mangione's big break came in the mid-'60s playing with Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, a gig that would help lay the foundation for a career that spanned more than 60 years, 30 albums, music and entertainment. His emphasis on melodic music — frowned upon by some hard-line jazz fans — was best heard in his chart-topping hit "Feels So Good," the title track of his 1977 album. The single became synonymous with Mangione and helped propel him into the mainstream. Notably, Mangione and his megahit were a running gag on the popular animated series "King of the Hill," in which he lent his voice to several episodes. "Feels So Good" was also referenced in "Friends," "The Big Bang Theory" and Marvel's "Doctor Strange" film in 2016. Though parts of the jazz community dismissed Mangione's work as lightweight and too pop, the composer saw divisive reaction to his music as a rite of passage. "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 toldThe Times in 1988. "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," he added at the time. Read more:Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath singer, solo artist and reality TV star, dies at 76 Mangione was born Nov. 29, 1940, and raised in Rochester, N.Y. His love for jazz music stemmed from his father, who was a fan of the genre. Mangione's prolific career is also rooted in his teen years, when he performed with pianist brother Gap Mangione as the Jazz Brothers and jammed in small Rochester clubs with visiting artists including Gillespie and Jones. It was Gillespie, Mangionerecalled in 1994, who recommended that the "Give It All You Got" musician join the Jazz Messengers. While touring with Blakey, Mangione recorded his first set of albums including 1966's "Buttercorn Lady." In the late '60s, Mangione formed his own quartet, featuring his childhood friend Gerry Niewood. Fostering his new, softer sound, Mangione released the album "Land of Make Believe" in 1973. The album and title track, featuring the vocals of Esther Satterfield, both earned Grammy nominations. Mangione, who moved from A&M Records to CBS Records in 1982, had a steady output of music through 1988. He toldThe Timesthat year that he faced pressure to duplicate the styles that led to his earlier success. "That's not what I want to do; I just write whatever music I feel like writing, and that has to be my next album," he said. Read more:Hulk Hogan, pro wrestler and pop culture icon who excelled at earning fans' love and hate, dies at 71 Beyond recordings, Mangione's career also included performing and conducting opportunities across the globe, including fundraisers and jazz festivals. Mangione famously composed his hit "Give It All You Got" for the 1980 Winter Olympics at Lake Placid, performing the number at the closing ceremony. He released his final album, "Everything for Love," in 2000 and retired in 2015. Mangione graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a bachelor's degree in music. Later in life, he would return to Eastman as an instructor and begin its jazz program. He also received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, earned recognition from the Smithsonian National Museum and was inducted in 2012 to his hometown's Music Hall of Fame. "Chuck's love affair with music has been characterized by his boundless energy, unabashed enthusiasm, and pure joy that radiated from the stage," his family said in a statement shared with The Times on Thursday. Mangione's loved ones also highlighted the musician's devotion to the New York Yankees and requested privacy. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared inLos Angeles Times.
