Tony Butala, Lettermen Co-Founder Behind 'When I Fall in Love,' Dies at 87
Tony Butala, a founding member of the beloved vocal group The Lettermen, known for smooth harmonies on hits like "When I Fall in Love," has died at 87.
Butala died on Sunday, Nov. 1, a representative for the group confirmed. No cause of death has been announced. He was the last surviving original member of the group.
The Lettermen Pay Tribute
The Lettermen shared the news on Facebook. "It is with profound sadness that we announce the recent passing of Tony Butala," the group wrote, according to American Songwriter.
"We have lost an integral member of The Lettermen family," the group said in a statement, adding, "Tony never met a stranger," Music-News reported.
The group credited Butala with keeping The Lettermen together for more than six decades and thanked him for the "smiles" he brought fans. They also extended sympathy to his children, grandchildren, siblings and "the love of his life."
Celebrations of his life are being planned in Wisconsin and California, with details to be announced.
A Child Performer Turned Hitmaker
Born in 1938, Butala spent his early years on his grandparents' farm, where his love of music began. By age 8, he was singing on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh.
As a child, he sang with the Mitchell Boys Choir and appeared in Hollywood productions including "White Christmas," "Peter Pan," "War of the Worlds" and "On Moonlight Bay."
The Lettermen name traces back to a 1958 Las Vegas stage revue at the Desert Inn, where Butala performed in a trio that was dubbed The Lettermen. He later teamed up with Jim Pike and Bob Engemann to form the trio that would become famous.
The trio first recorded for Warner Bros. Records in 1960, but its two early singles failed to chart. Engemann's brother Karl, a record producer, then helped the group land a deal with Capitol Records.
Decades of Hits
After signing with Capitol Records in 1961, The Lettermen broke through with "The Way You Look Tonight," which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year, "When I Fall in Love" climbed to No. 7 and topped the Adult Contemporary chart.
The group went on to score hits including "Theme From A Summer Place," "Come Back Silly Girl," the medley "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You" and "Hurt So Bad." The medley reached No. 7 on the Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination in 1968, while "Hurt So Bad" peaked at No. 12 in 1969 and spent 21 weeks on the chart.
In all, The Lettermen placed 20 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned four Grammy nominations, including a nod for Best New Artist in 1962. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001 and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020. The group also racked up 32 consecutive charting albums and 11 gold records over the years.
Keeping the Music Alive
Butala was the only original member to stay with the group throughout its history. When Pike left in 1976 due to vocal problems, he sold the Lettermen name to Butala. Engemann died in 2013, and Pike died in 2019.
Butala performed with the group from the late 1950s until he stepped back in 2019. Even after retiring from the stage, he stayed involved behind the scenes, helping lay "the groundwork for The Lettermen's legacy to continue under skilled leadership," the group said. A newer lineup continues to perform today.
For generations of fans, The Lettermen's romantic ballads were the soundtrack to first dances, weddings and anniversaries, and Butala's voice was a big part of that legacy.
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