Tony Butala 1938 – 2026

Biography

Anthony Francis “Tony” Butala was an American singer who founded the vocal group The Lettermen and led it for more than six decades. Born November 20, 1938, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, he formed the trio in the late 1950s with Jim Pike and Bob Engemann, and as lead singer carried its silky three-part harmonies to fame with “The Way You Look Tonight” and “When I Fall in Love.” The Grammy-nominated group toured for decades, and Butala stayed at its helm until his retirement in 2019, when he was the last surviving original member; the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2020. He died on November 1, 2026, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, after battling health issues in recent years. He was 87. The Lettermen were performing in Las Vegas the night he died and closed the show with a memorial tribute.