Tony Butala, a founding member of the vocal trio The Lettermen, has died at the age of 87. Parade reported the news, which the group announced on its Facebook page.
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Tony Butala Began Singing At an Early Age
Butala was born on Nov. 20, 1938, in Sharon, Pennsylvania. He began singing at age 7 and became a star on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh a year later. His family then moved to Hollywood. There, he joined the Robert Mitchell Boys Choir. He also provided the singing voice for one of the Lost Boys in the classic Disney film Peter Pan and appeared in the classic films White Christmas and War of the Worlds.
That experience carried into the late 1950s, when Butala, Bob Engemann, and Jim Pike formed The Lettermen. Known for its three-part harmonies, the group's hits include 1961's "The Way You Look Tonight" and "When I Fall in Love," which was released the following year. Then, in 1968, its medley of "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" earned a Grammy nod. They also covered the classic track "Hurt So Bad."
The trio earned a total of four Grammy nominations, 11 gold records, and had over 30 albums chart on Billboard.
Fans Are Showing Their Appreciation for The Lettermen Singer
Though the band continues to perform, Butala was the last surviving original member of The Lettermen. He retired from the group in 2019, though he occasionally appeared with its current members, and fans showed their love of Butala and The Lettermen on the group's Facebook page.
"In May of 2019, Tony made the conscious decision to step away from the limelight," a statement read. "Though his performing days had come to an end, he was instrumental in laying the groundwork for The Lettermen's legacy to continue under skilled leadership."
It continued, "The Lettermen of the present and future will always stand on the principles that guided Tony in its inception. Through this legacy, The Lettermen are still performing today, 65 years later.
"Tony never met a stranger. His life was a living example of talent, perseverance, and refinement. But above all, his true joy was entertaining and sharing his music with audiences worldwide. His spirit will live on with every Lettermen performance."
