07/26/2025
Last week I saw the news that Chuck Mangione has died at the age of 84. And even though I didn’t know him personally, he was someone who was there for a really special part of my life.
I first heard “Feels So Good” in 1977—the year after I got married. I didn’t know anything about Chuck before that song was released, but when it came on the radio, it just stuck. That smooth sound became part of the background of my life.
Life was different then. Simpler in a lot of ways. Dallas still felt like a small, regional city. Tom Landry was still the only head coach the Cowboys had ever had. Zig Ziglar was filling rooms and hearts with the message that you could have everything in life you wanted if you helped enough other people get what they wanted. Mary Kay Ash was building an empire and opening doors for women that hadn’t existed before. Ross Perot was already changing the world—bringing tech, vision, and energy to our backyard. It felt like Dallas was on the edge of something big, and we were lucky enough to be there for it. There was a real sense of stability, and hope.
And Chuck’s music just fit. It played during quiet evenings, long drives, and lazy weekends. It was one of those songs that didn’t need words. You just felt it, and it made everything feel alright.
So hearing he’s gone brings a little sadness, and a lot of memories. That song helped define that time in my life. And for that, I’ll always be grateful.
Rest in peace, Chuck. You made it feel so good.
A transcription of the melody and solos on "Feels So Good" by Chuck Mangione, with tenor saxophone Chris Vadala. I love this song so much and a lot of Mangio...
