Chuck Mangione: Jazz fusion, pop appeal, and a 'King of the Hill' legacy

Chuck Mangione is an American flugelhorn player, trumpeter, and composer, best known for his smooth jazz sound and crossover success in the 1970s. He was born on November 29, 1940, in Rochester, New York, and his career has spanned over six decades, making him a prominent figure in both jazz and popular music. Mangione showed a passion for music early on, studying at the Eastman School of Music.

His initial work was as part of The Jazz Brothers, a group he formed with his brother, Gap Mangione, in the early 1960s. During this time, he played with renowned musicians like Art Blakey in the Jazz Messengers, an important formative experience in his career. Mangione gained fame in the 1970s, especially with his Grammy-winning hit "Feels So Good" (1977), which became one of the best-known instrumental tunes in popular music, and at a time when instrumental music was way more popular and vinyl records were the standard..

The track, featuring his signature flugelhorn sound, blended elements of jazz, pop, and easy listening. Though some will always dismiss easy listening music as "mediocre," Mangione’s accessible melodies and smooth, lyrical style nonetheless appealed to a wide audience, helping to expand the reach of jazz to mainstream listeners.

While some jazz purists criticized Mangione for his mainstream, "commercial" sound, there's agreement that his music brought jazz to a larger audience. His ability to combine technical proficiency with accessible melodies made him a significant figure in jazz fusion during the 1970s. His influence continues to be felt in contemporary smooth jazz and crossover genres.

Chuck Mangione and the King of the Hill connection

Mangione also made appearances in pop culture, perhaps most memorably including the animated show King of the Hill (which they are apparently bringing back), where he was featured as a character, which involves him parodying himself. In the show, he has an oppressive contract with "Mega Lo Mart," requiring him to appear at every new store opening. Another joke on the show is that, whenever he plays a tune, it always morphs into the melody from "Feels So Good," He also wrote a track named "Peggy Hill," named after one of the show's main characters.

So, even if you're not the hugest fan of his style of jazz, you might still like King of the Hill and Mangione's strange corporate "Mega Lo Mart" saga. Also, his music further bridged the gap between jazz and pop, and his melodic flugelhorn sound captivated listeners across generations. So there is also that.

Notable albums and compositions

Feels So Good (1977): This album featured the title track, which remains his most famous piece. The smooth jazz sound of the song became a radio staple and helped Mangione become a household name.

Chase the Clouds Away (1975): Mangione's work on this album was used as part of the soundtrack for the 1976 Summer Olympics, adding to his global recognition.

Children of Sanchez (1978): A soundtrack album for the film of the same name, which won him a second Grammy.

The title track is a powerful piece blending jazz, orchestral music, and Latin influences.