BREAKING: Jazz legend Chuck Mangione dead at 84

Jazz musician Chuck Mangione has passed away at the age of 84. 

Per WROC, the Bartolomeo & Perreto Funeral Home said that Mangione passed away in his sleep on Tuesday at his Rochester, New York home. 

Mangione, a Rochester native, graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music. 

Over the span of his career, Mangione won two Grammy awards and was nominated for 14, and came out with over 30 albums. He also starred in a recurring role on King of the Hill. 

Bob Sneider, a faculty member at Eastman Jazz who toured with Mangione, said, "Chuck Mangione was a larger-than-life composer, trumpet and flugelhorn player, band-leader, recording artist and mentor. He inspired generations of kids to play instruments in a variety of musical styles. Chuck was instrumental in growing the jazz department at the Eastman School of Music. He directed the Eastman Jazz Ensemble and was a big part of the famed Arranger’s holiday."

Co-producers of the Rochester International Jazz Festival, Marc Iacona and John Nugent, said, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chuck Mangione, a legendary musician whose sound helped define a generation and whose roots run deep in Rochester. His music brought joy to millions, but for those of us who grew up here, Chuck was more than a global icon. He was one of our own. From the soaring flugelhorn melodies that made the world ‘Feel So Good’ to the countless ways he championed his hometown, Chuck’s influence was profound, personal, and lasting. Our thoughts are with his beloved brother Gap, with whom he shared not only the stage but a lifetime of musical magic. Chuck’s music will continue to echo through the hearts of fans near and far. His legacy will forever be a part of the spirit of Rochester and the soul of jazz."