New releases, music videos and album news — indie, rap, rock and pop. Always covering Ren, Chris Webby, Sam Tompkins, bbno$, CHINCHILLA, Muse, Yungblud and more.
Last Surviving Founding Member of Iconic 60s Vocal Group Dead at 87
Tony Butala, the last surviving founding member of vocal group The Lettermen, has died aged 87. He helped establish the group’s long-running career, and members said his leadership and planning helped it continue performing for more than six decades.
Born in 1938, Butala began singing on Pittsburgh radio aged eight and performed with The Lettermen from the late 1950s until 2019. The group earned hit albums and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; after retiring, Butala helped lay the groundwork for its future leadership. He is remembered by the group, fans and those he mentored.
In short
- Tony Butala helped found The Lettermen.
- He performed with the group until 2019.
- The group says his work secured its future.
Explained simply
The Lettermen were an American vocal group formed in the late 1950s, known for close harmonies and popular recordings. Tony Butala was one of its founding members and sang with the group for decades.
Butala began performing as a child and remained with The Lettermen until 2019. The group released successful albums and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The group’s long career depended on successive generations of performers, with Butala helping prepare future leadership after his retirement. Its music and influence have been remembered by members, fans and singers he mentored.