Chuck Mangione – Flugelhorn – Born November 29, 1940
So today’s list of birthdays contains many artists who appear in my music library. First, John Mayall celebrates his 83th birthday. Man, it seems like just yesterday I we were celebrating his 70th birthday. His 70th birthday concert album is a great concert album, Next, Felix Cavaliere turns 74 (The Rascals) I have a couple of albums he recorded with Steve Cropper in my collection, Then there’s Jesse Cook, one of my favorite acoustic guitarists, Jesse Cook turns birthday 52 today!
Finally there’s Chuck Mangione. I only have one Chuck Mangione album in my vinyl collection, Feels So Good. And it’s a good one! The title track was one of Chuck’s biggest hits and was one of the most recognizable instrumentals of the 1970s. It set the stage for a lot of crossover jazz albums to come!! For those of you who may not know Chuck, here is the obligatory background information
First from Wikipedia….
About Chuck Mangione
Charles Frank “Chuck” Mangione (/mændʒiˈoʊni/; born November 29, 1940) is an American flugelhorn player, trumpeter and composer who achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-pop single, “Feels So Good.” Mangione has released more than thirty albums since 1960 Continue Reading
And then From All About Music…
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 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. (those are some pretty big shoes to fill!! – ekk) 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. Continue Reading
So let’s go “into the night” with Chuck Mangione’s “Feels So Good”