For more than five decades, Chuck Mangione’s love affair with music has been characterized by his boundless energy, unabashed enthusiasm, and pure joy that radiates from the stage.
Mangione first attracted attention with his brother, Gap, in a mainstream jazz band, The Jazz Brothers, in which he played trumpet much like that of the man who he refers to as his musical father-Dizzy Gillespie. In fact Dizzy gave Chuck an ‘updo’ horn just like his own.
Chuck’s years with the Jazz Brothers overlapped with his attending the Eastman School of Music and eventually resulted in his solo album debut. Chuck left home to play with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, assuming the trumpet chair that had belonged to such great players as Clifford Brown, Kenny Dorham, Bill Hardman, Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard.
Another important step in Mangione’s career development was his return to the Eastman School of Music as director of the school’s Jazz Ensemble. His ‘Friends & Love’ concert with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra was recorded live and featured ‘Hill Where the Lord Hides.’ This led to a recording contract with a major label, Mercury records, and his first Grammy nomination.
Those early years with Mercury culminated in the title tune of one of Mangione’s most popular albums. Land of Make Believe, another Grammy nominee, Mangione then signed with A&M Records and delivered two extremely successful releases in one year, Chase The Clouds Away, which was used as background music during the telecast of the 1976 Olympic Games; and Bellavia (‘beautiful way’), named to honor his mother, which won Mangione his first Grammy award.
During the late 1970’s, Chuck received more awards and accolades for his recordings. He reached new heights with his mega-hit single and album, Feels So Good. The 1980 Mangione entry in Current Biography called ‘Feels So Good’ the most recognized melody since the Beatles’ ‘Michelle.’ The Children of Sanchez double album soundtrack won the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globe Award, then earned Mangione a second Grammy award.
In 1980 maximum impact was achieved in front of an ‘intimate’ television of several hundred million when Chuck’s ‘Give It All You Got’ was heard around the world as the theme of the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid which he performed live at the closing ceremonies.
The ’80’s were exceptionally full years for Chuck. Having signed with Columbia Records he released several albums, including Love Notes, Journey To A Rainbow, Disguise, and Save Tonight For Me. Another highlight was working out with the New York Yankees at their spring training camp at the invitation of his friend and fan, George Steinbrenner. Chuck was often seen playing the National Anthem at Yankee Stadium and All Star games in San Francisco and Chicago.
Chuck received the Eastman School of Music Alumni Achievement Award in 2007. In 2009, Chuck was highlighted at the Smithsonian in an artifacts Donation Ceremony and Onstage Discussion that pays homage to his illustrious career, artist,ry, community service, and dedication to jazz education.
