Grammy-winning jazz icon Chuck Mangione has died, his lawyer has confirmed. The musician and composer is best known for his work on the animated series King of the Hill
Grammy-winning jazz maestro Chuck Mangione has died.
The ‘Hall of Fame’ musician is said to have died peacefully at home. Mangione, celebrated for his musical brilliance and comedic talents, especially his vocal contributions to the animated hit King of the Hill, allegedly passed away peacefully in his sleep at 84.
The announcement came through his official website, which displayed a heartbreaking tribute reading: ” We are very sorry. Chuck Mangione has passed. More to come.”
His death happened during the same devastating week that claimed actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner in a drowning tragedy, as well as music icon Ozzy Osbourne, who died aged 76 shortly after his final farewell performance, and Hulk Hogan, whose death resulted from heart complications.
Peter S Matorin of Beldock Levine and Hoffman LLP, Mangione’s legal representative, verified his death, disclosing he had passed away peacefully at his Rochester, New York residence on July 22
The career of Mangione (born Charles Frank) included numerous chart-topping recordings and established him as one of jazz’s most significant figures.
His compositions Chase The Clouds Away and Give It All You Got featured prominently in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York.
Throughout his distinguished career, he secured two Grammy Awards, the first in 1977 for Best Instrumental Composition and the second in 1979 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance. He was also inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2012, reports the Mirror US.
While he’s best known for his jazz exploits, Mangione made waves with a new crowd when he dipped his toes into TV comedy.
His foray into the small screen came with a stint in the early seasons of the animated hit, King of the Hill. There, he played a fictionalised version of himself, acting as a celebrity endorser for the made-up “Mega Lo Mart.”
He even penned the tunes for the show’s 1998 Valentine’s Day special.
Before his television adventures, Mangione first turned heads as the leader of the Eastman School of Music’s jazz band, before hitting it big in the ’60s alongside his brother, Gap.
His stellar work earned him the Eastman School of Music Alumni Achievement Award in 2007. The ’70s saw him rise to official stardom.
A private funeral is planned for the music legend.