By Fatma Younis
Tony Butala, a founding member of the harmony trio The Lettermen, has died at the age of 87. His death on Sunday was confirmed by the band's media coordinator, Tracy Clark, who shared an official statement from the group.
Statement from the band
"We have lost an integral member of The Lettermen family," the statement read. "It is with profound sadness that we announce the recent passing of Tony Butala, founding member of the international recording artists 'The Lettermen,' and recipient of a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame." The statement described Butala as someone who "never met a stranger" and whose life exemplified "talent, perseverance, and refinement." No cause of death was provided, and there will be no public viewing. Details for celebrations of life in Wisconsin and California will be announced later.
Early life and career
Butala was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, in 1938. He was singing professionally by age 7, appeared on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh at 8, and moved with his mother to Los Angeles at 10. In Los Angeles, he joined the Mitchell Boys Choir and appeared in classic films including "White Christmas," "Peter Pan," "War of the Worlds," and "On Moonlight Bay."
The Lettermen success
In the late 1950s, Butala co-founded The Lettermen with Jim Pike and Bob Engemann. Their lush vocal harmonies made them one of the most popular vocal groups of the 1960s. Their first hit came in 1961 with a version of Fred Astaire's "The Way You Look Tonight," which peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination in 1962. The group was also nominated for best new artist that year. Nineteen more songs reached the Billboard charts over the following decade, including two Top 10 hits: "When I Fall in Love" (1962) and the Grammy-nominated medley "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes off You" (1968). Their last chart hit was "Everything is Good About You" in 1971.
Later years and legacy
Butala was the last surviving member of the original lineup. Pike died in 2019 at 82, and Engemann died in 2013. The Lettermen continued with various lineups while maintaining their distinctive three-part sound; the current trio consists of Donovan Tea, Bobby Poynton, and Rob Gulack. Butala stepped away from performing in 2019. In 2020, he and The Lettermen received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
