Chuck Mangione backing tracks

Charles Frank Mangione was born in Rochester, New York, on November 29, 1940. His formal introduction to music began with piano lessons at age eight. Two years later he began trumpet lessons. During his early years, a major influence on his life and music was the love and warmth of his parents. They were “totally committed to their children.” His album Bellavia (on A&M), is dedicated to his parents. The commitment of Chuck’s father proved to be the catalyst for some amazing experiences. Since his sons were interested in music, Chuck’s dad would take them to many concerts and local clubs.

A list of those who dined and played in the Mangione living room reads like a who’s who of jazz in the fifties: Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Kai Winding, Jimmy Cobb, Sam Jones, Junior Mance, Cannonball Adderley, Ronnie Zito, and Ron Carter. During these weekly (and sometimes nightly) sessions, Chuck’s mother would cook for all. One of Chuck’s favorite stories tells of a time when he telephoned home saying, “Mom, I’m bringing home 35 orchestra players for dinner in ten minutes.” “Fine,” she replied, and when they arrived dinner was ready!

Of all the musicians to play at the Mangione home, certainly the most influential was Gillespie. Chuck states: “I regard him as being my musical father.” When Chuck was only 15 years old, Dizzy was so impressed with Chuck’s playing that he gave him one of his up swept horns.

By the time Chuck reached high school, he was continuing his studies of trumpet and music theory at the Preparatory Department of the Eastman School of Music, and he and Gap were starting to play professionally. “Every kid in high school had a big band instead of a rock band…” But because Chuck was “definitely more into the small group thing,” he and pianist Gap formed a quintet known as the Jazz Brothers in 1958, Chuck’s senior year in high school. The Jazz Brothers stayed together until 1964, playing “neo-bebop,” according to Gap. Personnel originally included Sal Nistico and Roy McCurdy. Jimmy Garrison, Steve Davis, and Ron Carter also played with the Brothers. The group recorded three albums on the Riverside label: The Jazz Brothers, Hey Baby!, and Spring Fever. In 1962, Chuck cut an album on his own, Recuerdo, for Jazzland Records.