NEW YORK — Tony Butala, co-founder of the Grammy-nominated trio The Lettermen, whose magnificent vocal harmonies became one of the most popular vocal groups of the 1960s, died on Sunday. He was 87 years old.
Tracy Clark, the group’s media coordinator, confirmed Butala’s death to the Associated Press. He shared an official statement from the group.
“We have lost an integral member of The Lettermen family,” the message read. “It is with great sadness that we announce the recent passing of Tony Butala, founding member of international recording artists ‘The Lettermen’ and Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame recipient. Our deepest thoughts and prayers are with his children, grandchildren, siblings, the love of his life, the entire Lettermen organization, and everyone who knew and loved him.”
The cause of death was not stated.
There will be no public viewing. Details of celebrations of life held in Wisconsin and California will be announced at a later date.
Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, in 1938, Butala’s career began in his childhood. He began singing professionally at age 7, at KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh at age 8, and at age 10 he moved with his mother to Los Angeles, where he joined the Mitchell Boys Choir and appeared in classic films such as “White Christmas,” “Peter Pan,” “War of the Worlds” and “In Moonlight Bay.”
In the late ’50s, Butala co-founded The Lettermen with Jim Pike and Bob Engemann. Hits soon followed: In 1961, they debuted with their version of Fred Astaire’s “The Way You Look Tonight,” peaking at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. They were nominated for a Grammy in 1962. At this awards ceremony, they also received the coveted best new artist nomination.
Over the next decade, The Lettermen would place 19 more songs on the Billboard charts.
Two of them reached the Top 10, 1962’s “When I Fall in Love” and the 1968 Grammy-nominated medley “Goin’ Out of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes You.” Their last hit was 1971’s “Everything’s Beautiful About You.”
The beloved band has toured constantly, playing colleges across the country and venues around the world.
Butala was the last surviving member of the trio’s original line-up: Pike died in 2019, aged 82. This was due to complications of Parkinson’s disease. Engemann died in 2013.
Over the decades, The Lettermen has had various lineups; replaced departing members but always remained as a trio to keep their distinctive three-piece sound alive. The current roster consists of Donovan Tea, Bobby Poynton and Rob Gulack.
Butala withdrew from performing in 2019. And in 2020, Butala and The Lettermen received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The band’s official statement continued: “Tony has never met a stranger.” “His life was a living example of talent, perseverance and grace. But above all, his true joy was to entertain and share his music with audiences around the world.”