Chuck  Mangione, the Grammy‑winning flugelhornist best known for his 1978 instrumental hit “Feels So Good,” died peacefully in his sleep on July 22 at his home in Rochester, New York. He was 84 years old. His death was confirmed via his official website, with no specific cause listed beyond natural circumstances.

Born Charles Frank Mangione on November 29, 1940, he grew up in a musical household in Rochester, where jazz greats such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Art Blakey, and Carmen McRae were often dinner guests at the Mangione home. His early fascination with jazz set the stage for a prolific career. Mangione studied at the Eastman School of Music, graduating in 1963, then served on faculty and led the Eastman jazz ensemble starting in 1968.

Mangione’s professional journey began in earnest in the 1960s when he joined Art  Blakey’s Jazz Messengers as trumpet chair, following in the footsteps of luminaries like Clifford Brown and Lee Morgan. He and his brother Gap co‑led the Jazz Brothers ensemble, releasing several albums before Mangione launched his own band in the early 1970s.

His first major acclaim came with the song “Bellavia,” earning him a Grammy in 1977 for Best Instrumental Composition. That same year, his composition “Chase the Clouds Away” featured in global coverage of the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics. In 1978, Mangione released his landmark album Feels So Good, whose title track soared to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Contemporary charts. The album itself peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, second only to Saturday Night Fever.

“Feels So Good,” which clocked nearly ten minutes in its album version and earned a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year in 1979, became Mangione’s signature tune and a crossover phenomenon. His follow‑up work included composing “Give It All You Got” as the theme for the 1980 Winter Olympics and writing the soundtrack for Children of Sanchez, both of which further cemented his reputation.

Over six decades, Mangione released more than 30 albums and received 14 Grammy nominations, with two wins. Beyond studio recordings, he made a memorable cultural impact through television: guest‑starring as himself on King of the Hill, notably portraying the fictional Mega Lo Mart spokesperson and performing “Feels So Good” in episodes.

Mangione’s reach extended into film and TV, with his music featured in Fargo, Zombieland, Doctor Strange, The Simpsons, South Park, and Friends.

In Rochester, Mangione’s hometown embraced him with pride: he was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2012 and held an honorary doctorate from Eastman.

Friends remember Mangione for his warmth and accessibility—a trait his family highlighted when announcing his passing.

“His appreciation for his loyal worldwide fans was genuine as evidenced by how often he would sit at the edge of the stage after a concert for however long it took to sign autographs for the fans who stayed to meet him and the band,” his family’s statement reads. 

Mangione gradually stepped out of the spotlight in the early 2000s, choosing to retire from active touring and recording. Though he no longer performed regularly, he remained connected to the music world through teaching, occasional appearances, and the continued popularity of his recordings.

Mangione is survived by his family, who are planning private funeral services. In his memory, many are revisiting the melodies that made Mangione a household name—music that, as the title of his most famous composition suggests, still feels so good.