Chuck MangioneChuck Mangione is perhaps one of the best jazz musicians and flugelhorn players of his time. Chuck Mangione was born in Rochester, New York, on November 29, 1940. From the beginning he belonged to a family of musicians. They have been visited by many jazz musicians, including Dizzy Gillespie and Cannonball Adderley! Chuck began his career as a child playing the trumpet, he also practiced with Dizzy and called him his "musical father". Later, Dizzy was so impressed with Chuck's skill that he gave him one of his upward-curving trumpets. Later, Chuck continued his musical career at the Eastman School of Music. While in high school, he and his brother Gap began playing professionally. Because Chuck preferred smaller jazz groups to large "big bands", he and his brother started a quintet in 1958 called the Jazz Brothers during his senior year. The band lasted until 1964 and included Sal Nistico and Roy McCurdy and later Jimmy Garrison, Steve Davis and Ron Carter. The group recorded three albums on the Riverside Label: The Jazz Brothers, Hey Baby! and Spring Fever. Later in 1962, Chuck released an album of his own, called Recuerdo. His biggest break was in 1970, when his recording at the Eastman Theater with the Philharmonic was made into an album. Chuck was generally recognized as a flugelhorn player, but he didn't start out that way. He switched to the flugelhorn only when the Eastman band needed a flugelhorn player and he volunteered. Since then, Chuck has started practicing with it more. He is best known for his exceptional playing ability and his music writing work. He won a Grammy for Bellavia in 1976 and another for Children of Sanchez in 1978. His album "Feels So Good" became Chuck's first gold album, later going platinum,......half of paper...... What is most striking about Chuck is that he was a guest at the 1983 International World Drum Corps Championships in Miami, where he can be seen giving his thoughts on the performances. He also appeared in the hit children's TV show: “Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show" as "Little Boy Blue". In the King of the Hill series, the character Chuck will play anything, but the song will eventually turn into “Feels So Good.” Chuck's early dreams were to play bebop in a jazz club, he had no idea that one day he would lead the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra! Overall, Chuck Mangione was an influential and popular musician/soloist in jazz. He wrote and played incredible music and won numerous awards. He had great jazz idols and also played his own kind of jazz. All in all, Chuck Mangione is a truly incredible musician.