The Lettermen
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The Lettermen are a pop music vocal group.
The Lettermen's trademark was close-harmony pop songs with light arrangements. They were more popular with adult audiences during the 1960s.
History
The group was formed in late 1950s by two students from Brigham Young University — Jim Pike and Bob Engemann — along with a third singer, Tony Butala. Their first performance was in 1958 at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas. The group started out as the Four Most; the later name The Lettermen associates them with American school athletics by suggesting each singer is also a "letterman".They remained relatively unknown until they signed with Capitol Records in 1961. Their first single for Capitol, "The Way You Look Tonight," succeeded on the pop charts, and their next, "When I Fall in Love," reached the Top 10 in late 1961. They had a few other top-10 hits, such as the 1966 "I Only Have Eyes for You", the 1968 medley "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You", and 1969's "Hurt So Bad". Their albums sold successfully, and their concerts were popular.
Over the decades, the group has had various lineups, replacing members who left for various reasons with new people to maintain a trio. Tony Butala, who (as of 2006) is still a member, has stated that the group ethos is that of three strong soloists that harmonize, and that the group encourages individual singing and songwriting careers.
They pride themselves in welcoming amateur audience photographs during the show, unlike many stage acts.
Personnel
- Tony Butala
- Bob Engemann
- Gary Pike
- Donny Pike
- Jim Pike
- Ralph 'Chad' Nichols
- Don Campeau
- Ernie Pontiere
- Bobby Poynton
- Darren Dowler
- Donovan Tea
- Mark Preston
Awards and recognition
- Inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001
Discography
Albums
- A Song for Young Love (1962)
- Once Upon a Time (1962)
- Jim, Tony and Bob (1962)
- College Standards (1963)
- The Lettermen in Concert (1963) (Live)
- A Lettermen Kind of Love (1964)
- She Cried (1964)
- The Lettermen Look at Love (1964)
- Portrait of My Love (1965)
- The Hit Sounds of the Letter (1965)
- You'll Never Walk Alone (1965)
- More Hit Sounds of the Lettermen (1966)
- New Song for Young Love (1966)
- The Best of the Lettermen (1966)
- Spring! (1967)
- The Lettermen!!...And Live! (1967) (Live)
- Warm (1967)
- Goin' Out of My Head (1968)
- Put Your Head on My Shoulder (1968)
- Special Request (1968)
- Hurt So Bad (1969)
- I Have Dreamed (1969)
- The Best of the Lettermen, Volume 2 (1969)
- Reflections (1970)
- Traces/Memories (1970)
- Everything's Good About You (1971)
- Feelings (1971)
- Love Book (1971)
- Lettermen 1 (1972)
- Alive Again...Naturally (1973)
- All-Time Greatest Hits (1974)
- For Christmas This Year (1990)
- Close to You (1992)
- Sing We Noel (1992)
- Twin Best Now (1992) (Japanese import)
- When I Fall in Love (1992)
- Why I Love Her (1993)
- The Best of the Lettermen (1993)
- Deck the Halls (1995)
- Today (1997)
- Christmas with the Lettermen (1997)
- (1999)
- Greatest Movie Hits (2000)
- A Song for Young Love/Once Once Upon a Time (2003)
- (2003)
- Absolutely The Best (2004)
- (2006)
Top-twenty hit singles
- "The Way You Look Tonight" (peaked at number 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1961; peaked at number 13 on the Pop Singles chart in 1961)
- "Come Back Silly Girl" (peaked at number 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1962; peaked at number 17 on the Pop Singles chart in 1962)
- "When I Fall in Love" (peaked at number 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1962)
- "Theme from A Summer Place" (peaked at number 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1965; peaked at number 16 on the Pop Singles chart in 1965)
- "I Only Have Eyes for You" (peaked at number 4 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1966)
- "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes off You" (peaked at number 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1968; peaked at number 7 on the Pop Singles chart in 1968)
- "Hurt So Bad" (peaked at number 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1969; peaked at number 12 on the Pop Singles chart in 1969)
- "Medley: Traces/Memories" (peaked at number 3 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1970)
- "She Cried" (peaked at number 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1970)
- "Everything Is Good About You" (peaked at number 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1971)
External link
- The Lettermen [official web site].
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