Two Members of Chuck Mangione's Band Killed In Buffalo Crash

Two members of Chuck Mangione's group were killed in the crash of Continental Flight 3407 last night outside Buffalo, New York. Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett were traveling to Buffalo for a performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic when the plane fell onto a suburban home.

Mangione has the following posted on his official website.

I'm in shock over the horrible, heartbreaking tragedy of the crash of Flight 3407 which took the lives of my dear friends and band members Gerry Niewood and Coleman Mellett. I am grieving and praying with their families and friends. That's all I can say for now.

Chuck Mangione

Niewood, who played flute, sax and other reed instruments, first recorded in the early 70's with Mangione on the wonderful concert recordings Friends and Love and Land of Make Believe along with his early studio albums. His playing can also be heard on albums by Grover Washington, Jr., Patti Austin, Cissy Houston, Liza Minnelli, Cleo Laine and Sinead O'Connor. He played saxophone at Simon & Garfunkel's early-80's Concert in Central Park.

Guitarist Mellet began recording in 1998 with Sugarman Three and also recorded with Jeanie Bryson and Eddie Landsburg. He began with Mangione by substituting for regular guitarist Grant Giessman and eventually became a full time member.