2 Members of Chuck Mangione’s Band Killed in Buffalo Plane Crash

Date: February 13, 2009
Written By: Jeff Tamarkin
Two members of flugelhornist Chuck Mangione’s band were among the 50 people killed on the plane that crashed into a Buffalo, New York house Thursday night. Publicist Sanford Brokaw told the Associated Press that flutist Gerry Niewood (pictured) and guitarist Coleman Mellett were aboard, en route to a Mangione gig in Buffalo with the Buffalo Philharmonic that has now been canceled. Niewood recorded and performed with Mangione from 1968-76 and sporadically since the late ’90s, and also recorded with a wide range of artists including Peggy Lee, Patti Austin, Simon and Garfunkel, Bob James, Lalo Schifrin and Grover Washington Jr. Niewood also recorded a number of albums as a leader. Mellett’s recording credits include appearances on albums by the Sugarman Three and Eddie Landsberg. He also released a solo album in 2007 called Natural High. In a statement Mangione, said, “I’m in shock over the horrible, heartbreaking tragedy.”
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