Tony Butala Dies at 87: Last Original Member of The Lettermen Passes Away

A legendary voice has gone quiet. Tony Butala, the founding member and longtime lead singer of The Lettermen, died on November 1, 2026, at the age of 87. He passed peacefully in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, after dealing with health issues in recent years, surrounded by people who loved him.

The Lettermen shared the news in a heartfelt Facebook tribute that same day, expressing profound sadness and sending their most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to his children, grandchildren, siblings, the love of his life, the entire Lettermen organization, and everyone who knew him. “Tony never met a stranger,” the group wrote. “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. His spirit will live on with every Lettermen performance.”

They closed the post by recalling the words of his final public solo, the classic “Smile”: “Smile though your heart is aching, smile even though it’s breaking, when there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by… If you smile through your fear and sorrow, smile and maybe tomorrow you’ll see the sun come shining through, if you just smile.” Then simply: “Thank you for all the smiles, Tony.”

Butala was born on November 20, 1938, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, one of eleven children in a family of Croatian descent. Even as a young boy he had more energy than he knew what to do with. His sister Joan, now 97, remembers him singing around town for women’s groups, the power company, and anyone who needed an entertainer. By age eight he was already performing on KDKA Radio in Pittsburgh. At ten he and his mother moved to Hollywood, where he joined the Mitchell Boys Choir. That led to appearances in classic films including White Christmas, Peter Pan, On Moonlight Bay, and others.

In the late 1950s he co-founded The Lettermen with Jim Pike and Bob Engemann. Their signature three-part harmony turned them into one of the biggest vocal groups of the era. Hits like their debut single “The Way You Look Tonight,” “When I Fall in Love,” and “Hurt So Bad” captured audiences for decades. The group earned four Grammy nominations, multiple gold records, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2020.

Butala stepped away from performing in 2019, yet he stayed involved behind the scenes to make sure the group’s legacy continued. He was the last surviving original member. The Lettermen are still performing today, more than 65 years after they began.

In keeping with his wishes there will be no public viewing. Celebrations of life are planned in Wisconsin and California, with details to come. The family has asked that anyone wishing to honor his memory consider a donation to the Lakeshore Humane Society in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.