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Tony Butala, who helped form the vocal group The Lettermen and became known for its romantic harmonies and classic pop hits, has died at 87.
Butala died on Sunday, November 1, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, after dealing with several health issues in recent years. He was surrounded by loved ones, according to the group's manager, David Haskell, who confirmed the news to USA TODAY.
The Lettermen announced his death two days later, describing him as an important part of the group's history and paying tribute to his years in music.
"Tony never met a stranger," the band's statement read. "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."
Butala began performing professionally when he was just seven years old in his hometown of Sharon, Pennsylvania. By the following year, he had secured a spot on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh. He later moved to Los Angeles with his mother, joined the Mitchell Boys Choir and appeared in several films, including White Christmas, On Moonlight Bay, Peter Pan and War of the Worlds.
In 1959, he co-founded The Lettermen with Jim Pike and Bob Engemann. The trio built a following through its three-part harmonies and became particularly successful in the 1960s.
Their 1961 version of Fred Astaire's "The Way You Look Tonight" reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination. Other popular recordings included "When I Fall in Love," which reached No. 7, and the medley "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You." The group received four Grammy nominations during its career.
Pike died in 2018, while Engemann died in 2013, leaving Butala as the last surviving member of the original lineup.
After decades of performing, Butala retired from the group in 2019. However, he wanted The Lettermen to continue, and the band has remained active with a new lineup. Haskell said preserving the group's music was something Butala had wanted.
The Lettermen received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020 in recognition of their contribution to music.
In accordance with his wishes, there will be no public viewing. Celebrations of life are planned in Wisconsin and California, with details to be announced. The family has also requested privacy and suggested donations to the Lakeshore Humane Society in Manitowoc in his memory.
