Tony Butala, Founding Member Of The Lettermen, Dies At 87

Tony Butala, founding member and lead singer of the vocal group The Lettermen, has died.

Butala passed away Sunday (Nov. 1) at the age of 87, a representative for the group confirmed. No cause of death was announced.

"We have lost an integral member of The Lettermen family," the group said in a statement, per Billboard. "Tony never met a stranger. 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 formed The Lettermen in 1958 alongside Bob Engemann and Jim Pike. The group scored their first hit in 1961 with a rendition of "The Way You Look Tonight." The group would go on to earn four Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist in 1962.

In 2020, the vocalists received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Butala was the last surviving original member, following the deaths of Engemann in 2013 and Pike in 2019.

Butala retired from performing in 2019, though The Lettermen continue to tour with a new lineup.