Over the past 25 years, Norman’s Jazz in June Festival has entertained its participators with some of the biggest names in the jazz industry. Past performers include John Althenburg, Beto and the Fairlanes. This year was no different.

Grammy award-winning Chuck Mangione performed Saturday at Andrews Park in the 25th annual Jazz in June festival.

Other headliners included Saffire, Bruce Benson and Barrie Lee Hall.

The festival began Thursday and continued through Saturday in various Norman locations.

Mangione and his band also hosted one of the free clinics provided by the festival at the Norman Institute for the Performing Arts.

Mangione first began his career playing in a band called the Jazz Brothers with his brother Gap. According to the biography on his official Web site, his first solo album resulted from attending Eastman School of Music and playing in his band. His “Friends and Love” concert with Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra led to a recording contract with Mercury Records.

Over the past 50 years, Mangione has received many awards. He received Grammy nominations for his concert “Friends and Love” and album “Land of Make Believe.” Mangione won his first Grammy award with his album “Bellavia.”

Jim Johnson, programming committee chair for the festival, said the committee sought Mangione as one of the headliners because of his legendary talents and many successes.

“We’ve been interested in him for awhile,” Johnson said. “He has one of those names who’s widely recognized.”

Johnson said many of people have heard of Mangione, but have never had the privilege of seeing him perform. He said he wanted to give people that opportunity.

“He’s just fantastic, just one of those legends in music. We just wanted a music giant like him,” Johnson said.

To give the public this opportunity took two years of planning, one of which was spent finalizing preparations for the festival, and year-round fundraising. Mark Mitchell, board member of the festival, said that was more of a challenge than negotiating with Mangione to commit to performing.

“We really didn’t have to convince him,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell said Mangione might be a little early for today’s youth, but his generation remembers the jazz artist well.

“We grew up with him in the back of our minds,” Mitchell said.

Jazz in June began as a fundraiser event for the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company. People from the CCOC and the Norman Arts and Humanities Council wondered what they could do to increase jazz interest in the Norman community and thought a jazz festival would be the best idea.

In its first year, only a couple hundred people attended the festival. Now the festival attracts thousands. The increase in popularity caused it to move from a fundraising event to just an entertainment event.

Mitchell said the festival has grown so much that board members within the last two years have created an endowment, which has raised more than $17,000. He said the long range goal is to use the money to carry out the festival each year.

All events were free of charge, but donations were accepted.

For information on next year’s Jazz in June festival, go to www.jazzinjune.org.