NEW YORK — Tony Butala, co-founder of the Grammy-nominated trio The Lettermen, whose lush vocal harmonies made them one of the common vocal teams of the Sixties, died Sunday. He was 87.
The band’s media coordinator, Tracy Clark, confirmed Butala’s loss of life to The Related Press. She shared an official assertion from the band.
“We’ve got misplaced an integral member of The Lettermen household,” it learn. “It’s with profound disappointment that we announce the current passing of Tony Butala, founding member of the worldwide recording artists ‘The Lettermen,’ and recipient of a Star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame. Our most heartfelt ideas and prayers are along with his youngsters, grandchildren, siblings, the love of his life, your complete Lettermen group and all who knew and liked him.”
A reason for loss of life was not offered.
There might be no public viewing. Particulars for celebrations of life held in Wisconsin and California might be introduced at a later date.
Born in Sharon, Pennsylvania, in 1938, Butala’s profession began in childhood. He began singing professionally at age 7, on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh at age 8 and by age 10, he moved along with his mom to Los Angeles, the place he joined the Mitchell Boys Choir and appeared in basic movies like “White Christmas,” “Peter Pan,” “Warfare of the Worlds” and “On Moonlight Bay.”
Within the late ‘50s, Butala co-founded The Lettermen alongside Jim Pike and Bob Engemann. The hits rapidly adopted: They’d their first with their model of Fred Astaire’s “The Manner You Look Tonight” in 1961, which peaked at No. 13 on Billboard’s Scorching 100. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1962. At that award present, additionally they obtained the coveted finest new artist nomination.
Over the course of the subsequent decade, The Lettermen would place 19 extra songs on Billboard charts.
Two made the High 10, 1962’s “After I Fall in Love” and the Grammy-nominated 1968 medley “Goin’ Out of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes off You.” Their final hit was 1971’s “All the pieces is Good About You.”
The beloved group toured continuously, enjoying faculties throughout the nation and venues around the globe.
Butala was the final surviving member of the trio’s unique lineup: Pike died in 2019 at age 82. The trigger was problems of Parkinson’s illness. Engemann died in 2013.
Throughout its many a long time, The Lettermen has had varied lineups, changing members who left however all the time remaining a trio to maintain its distinctive three-part sound alive. The present lineup is made up of Donovan Tea, Bobby Poynton and Rob Gulack.
Butala stepped away from performing in 2019. And in 2020, Butala and The Lettermen obtained a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame.
“Tony by no means met a stranger,” the official band assertion continued. “His life was a dwelling instance of expertise, perseverance, and refinement. However above all, his true pleasure was entertaining and sharing his music with audiences worldwide.”
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