The Lettermen’s Tony Butala Dies at 87
Butala, whose "true joy was entertaining and sharing his music," co-founded the 1960s vocal act known for popular recordings of "The Way You Look Tonight" and "When I Fall in Love."
Tony Butala, the founding member of The Lettermen and a six-time Top 40 hitmaker with the vocal group, has passed away at the age of 87. Butala was the last surviving original member of the iconic doo-wop group, known for their hit singles such as "The Way You Look Tonight," "When I Fall in Love," and "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You."
Born in 1938 in Sharon, Pennsylvania, Butala started singing at a young age, with a notable radio gig on KDKA when he was just seven years old. After moving to Los Angeles with his mother, he joined vocal work with the Mitchell Boys Choir in various films during his childhood. Butala joined The Lettermen in the 1950s, where they became a trio in 1958.
The group's first hit on the Billboard Hot 100 came in 1961 with their rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight," originally performed by Fred Astaire. Their most successful singles were "When I Fall in Love" and a double-sided release featuring "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You," which reached No. 7 on the chart.
Throughout their career, The Lettermen charted 20 songs on the Hot 100, with six of them reaching the top 20. They received four Grammy Award nominations, including for their 1962 remake of "The Way You Look Tonight" and their album containing that hit. Butala was remembered fondly by The Lettermen for his talent, perseverance, and refinement, as well as his joy in entertaining audiences worldwide.
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