Herb Alpert-Part of the force behind A&M Records- helping young artists like Chuck Mangione …
The official website for the now current A& M music —
I want to give a shout out to one of my favorite band leaders who also plays a mean horn as well, musician/entrepreneur- Herb Alpert. Aside from being an accomplished musician himself he was the co-owner and partner along with Jerry Moss( an American recording executive) in A & M Records. Founded back in 1962, it became one of the largest independent record labels in the world and managed this within the first ten years of it’s creation. A & M was a place for many Jazz, Blues and Soul, Folk & Funk also Rock artists over the years and thru 1999. Among those calling it home included Chuck Mangione, The Brothers Johnson, Paul Williams, Burt Bacharach, Peter Frampton, The Police, Sheryl Crow even Cheech and Chong. Far too many to mention here. I brought this up because I wanted to provide an incite as to where many of these great artists recorded their music and what label. Because in this case the producers were fellow musicians and who better to give direction and provide and open forum for creating and making music that has lasted the test of time and decades to give joy and inspiration to the generations that have followed since this labels inception. And A & M Records were a profound influence in the shaping of the music of the 70’s. This leads us to the last part of this edition of Funky Friday.
*** trivia break … a little known story behind one of two TV specials that Herb did for CBS involved a request from the network . One that if he did not come through with would mean no special. Herb had indicated several times “I don’t sing” . He prefers to lead his band and blow that trumpet. But the network was sticking to their “guns”. It’s a music special- gotta have songs!!! So Herb decided, “Okay, they want a song, they will get one”. Alpert decided he was not going to write one. He would put the word out to all his friends that were song writers-asking for any song they ever wrote that never made it, overlooked or rejected but that they felt should have been a hit. Well the response was overwhelming. But one stood out. It came from an unbelievable source-Burt Bacharach. The rest is history because when the special aired in April 22,1968 it gave the public and Herb one of his most successful songs- his only # 1-This Guy’s in Love With You. The special was titled Beat of the Brass. And he sang it to his wife on the show. 1000’s of fans flooded the network with calls asking where they could get a copy. Herb originally had no intent to release it until that happened. So without further ado I give you …
Above: one of my personal favorites… a rare clip from the 1968 TV special
CHUCK MANGIONE- Emulating the feel of the 70’S and the windy cities of New York
Chuck Mangione and that feel good trumpet playing, that could only come from Rochester, New York…a city that is no stranger to the arts both musically and on/off the silver screen. Every time I heard this tune and it was one of Chuck’s biggest hits transcending all the music charts the year it was released. It is clearly a tune that conjures up the positive side of walking down the streets of Rochester. A city defined by it’s steep multicultural ethnicity and that bleeds over into the art and music both produced and lived by it’s people…surrounded by rivers like the Genesee and one of the great lakes-Lake Ontario. Rochester is also the place where I grew up and have many fond memories. Chuck is one of those.
Above: Chuck at play — always with a smile of joy..
Chuck was one of two brothers, both musically inclined- the other was Gap. Born in my father’s neighborhood. Both were, would and have been a major influence on not only local musicians but internationally. Making the world a better place through their own brand and style of play..Multi talented and able to play several instruments and write and arrange music. Both are highly respected among their peers and the entertainment industry.
Below: cover for Friends and Love- recorded live at the Eastman Theater circa 1970 — released via Mercury Records as a double LP
Chuck was born November 29, 1940. Schooled at the world renown Eastman School of Music and cut his chops with his brother Gap as the Jazz Brothers. Then working with the incredible Maynard Ferguson, Art Blakley and Woody Herman thru the 60’s, then branching out and recording his own material in the 70’s. The 70’s were kind to and enabled Chuck to make more than a mark on the Jazz world and music as a whole . So much so that in those rare times when certain genres actually make that crossover to contemporary or mainstream. This time top 40 of Billboard Magazine- he hit the big time but is not only with 1977’s jazz-pop Feels So Good as a single. It brought him to composing one of the most prestigious events. Chuck was being given the reigns to score the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and in 1980 for the Winter Olympics at Lake Placid . Obviously there is more to his story and career but I wanted to give you the quick version on Chuck and his vocation. One that has lasted more than 5 decades and 50 plus years composing and playing the music that is more than a labor of love. Mr Mangione, being a firm believer in giving back to the community. And nothing has meant more to him than the very place where he was born and raised. Each and every year along with Gap they would return to their roots. The old neighborhood- the area of Conkey Ave, Upper Falls Blvd and Galusha Street. To celebrate the annual summer block party and perform a free concert. They would be joined by generations of current and former neighbors( that included my family) and residents. These two brothers made this a very high priority and no matter what was going on in their schedules- this was something that they never missed.
In more recent years he has lent his voice to a recurring character on King of the Hill as a spokesperson for Mega Lo Mart who is dressed in his signature clothes and hat from his breakthrough album and will upon occasion burst into a song which after a couple of bars starts to sound like Feels So Good- this became a long running joke. Even right up until the final episode — the series finale where he appears at a therapy session stating that it seems as if every song he plays now sounds like Feels So Good. Chuck who is as of today in his mid 70’s still performs and on many occasions accompanies his brother Gap on stage to share both of their legacy’s together.
Below: I give you the long version of Feels So Good 1977…imagine that your waking up in the morning and stretching as you out the window to start your day. Getting ready to take a stroll down the sidewalks of Rochester or city by the lake. dogs are barking and there’s guy on the street corner selling newspapers. You grab a donut from your favorite coffee shop, contemplating the rest of the day or it’s the middle of the day … and you’re ready for the thin extra large slice of pizza ..you know the one- it’s so big it’s a meal in itself and the guy who owns the shop still sells a plain cheese slice for 99 cents. Well that is what I grew up with…not a care in the world…so pick up those feet and shuffle along with that song in your heart or head as you greet everyone you meet on the street with a smile and a big hello….and enjoy your day…
