Tony Butala, Lettermen Co-Founder, Dies at 87 After 1960s Run of 20 Chart Hits

Q: What health struggles led to the peaceful passing of child prodigy and Lettermen founder Tony Butala in Wisconsin?

Tony Butala died peacefully in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, after battling several health issues in recent years, according to The Lettermen’s manager, David Haskell. He was 87 and was surrounded by loved ones. No specific illnesses or formal medical cause were publicly disclosed in the band’s initial announcement or in later reporting. The most detailed account available says only that he had been dealing with multiple health problems over the past few years before his death on Nov. 1. That means the confirmed answer is limited: Butala’s passing followed several unspecified health struggles, not a single publicly identified condition. The Lettermen and those close to him emphasized that he died peacefully and that memorial celebrations in Wisconsin and California would be announced later.

3 articles · Updated · abcnews.com · Nov 3

Tony Butala, the last surviving original member of The Lettermen, died Sunday at 87, the group said; no cause of death was disclosed.
1961 brought the trio's breakthrough with “The Way You Look Tonight,” which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a 1962 Grammy nomination.
Over the next decade, The Lettermen placed 19 more songs on Billboard charts, including Top 10 hits “When I Fall in Love” and “Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes off You.”
Butala began performing as a child, appeared in films including “White Christmas,” stepped away from touring in 2019, and received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star with the group in 2020.
The Lettermen continued through multiple lineup changes while keeping their three-part format; celebrations of Butala's life are planned in Wisconsin and California.