NewsWPLG Local 10November 3, 2026Miami-Dade County
Tony Butala, co-founder of The Lettermen vocal group, dies at 87
Photo: WPLG Local 10
Tony Butala, co-founder of the Grammy-nominated vocal group The Lettermen, passed away at the age of 87 on Sunday. The band's media coordinator confirmed his death, noting that celebrations of life will be held in Wisconsin and California. Butala was the last surviving member of the group's original lineup.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10Why It Matters
The death marks the passing of the last original member of The Lettermen, a prominent vocal group that placed 20 songs on Billboard charts and toured internationally for decades.
Key Facts
- Tony Butala, co-founder of The Lettermen, died Sunday at the age of 87.
- He was the last surviving member of the trio's original lineup, following the deaths of Jim Pike in 2019 and Bob Engemann in 2013.
- The Lettermen had their first hit in 1961 with a version of 'The Way You Look Tonight,' which peaked at No. 13 on Billboard's Hot 100 and earned a Grammy nomination.
- The group placed 20 songs on Billboard charts over the course of a decade, including top 10 hits 'When I Fall in Love' and 'Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes off You.'
- Butala began his professional singing career at age 7 and performed with the Mitchell Boys Choir, appearing in films like 'White Christmas' and 'War of the Worlds.'
- Butala stepped away from performing in 2019, and he and The Lettermen received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020.
- No cause of death was provided, and there will be no public viewing, with celebrations of life scheduled in Wisconsin and California.
- The current lineup of The Lettermen consists of Donovan Tea, Bobby Poynton, and Rob Gulack.
Who's Mentioned
OrganizationKDKA Radio“Radio station in Pittsburgh where Butala sang professionally at age 8”PersonTony Butala“Co-founder of The Lettermen vocal group”PersonRob Gulack“Current member of The Lettermen”OrganizationAssociated Press“News organization that reported the death”OrganizationThe Lettermen“Grammy-nominated vocal group co-founded by Tony Butala”PersonJim Pike“Original member of The Lettermen”locationCalifornia“State where a celebration of life will be held”locationLos Angeles“City where Butala moved with his mother”PersonFred Astaire“Original performer of 'The Way You Look Tonight'”locationWisconsin“State where a celebration of life will be held”locationSharon“Birthplace of Tony Butala in Pennsylvania”OrganizationMitchell Boys Choir“Choir Butala joined in Los Angeles”locationPittsburgh“City where Butala sang on KDKA Radio”PersonTracy Clark“Media coordinator for The Lettermen”PersonBob Engemann“Original member of The Lettermen”locationPennsylvania“State where Butala was born”PersonDonovan Tea“Current member of The Lettermen”OrganizationBillboard“Music chart organization”locationNEW YORK“Dateline of the news report”PersonBobby Poynton“Current member of The Lettermen”