Tony Butala: key obituary facts
Is Tony Butala dead? Yes. Tony Butala died on November 1, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Tony Butala's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Tony Butala known for?
He was a singer from the United States.
More about Tony Butala
Born: 20 November 1938.
Place of birth: Sharon.
Gender: male.
Occupation: singer, winegrower.
Education: Hollywood Professional School.
Also known as: Anthony Francis Butala.
Years active: 1958–2019.
Formerly of: The Lettermen.
Tony Butala, the American singer who led the vocal group The Lettermen, died November 1, 2026, aged 87.
Born Anthony Francis Butala in Sharon, Pennsylvania, on November 20, 1938, he was the eighth of 11 children of Mary Ann (Ference) and John George Butala; his family was of Croatian descent. He spent much of his early life on a farm owned by his grandparents, where rural life included deer hunting.
Butala began his professional singing career in 1948 with an appearance on “Starlets on Parade,” a Saturday-morning program on KDKA radio in Pittsburgh. During his preteen years, he became a favorite performer in and around his hometown. He attended Hollywood Professional School, and his work beyond music included winegrowing. From 1958 until his retirement in 2019, Butala was the lead singer of The Lettermen. He was the last surviving member of the group’s original three-person lineup. The Lettermen received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2020.