3/15/07

‘60s sensations The Lettermen to appear in Summerton
By Cathy Gilbert

Submitted Photo
The Lettermen, Tony Butala, center, with Donovan Tea and Mark Preseton, will appear at the Summerton Cultural Arts Center on April 13. The concert is sponsored by the Summerton Downtown Development Association.

If you are an adult of “a certain age” and wax nostalgic when you think of songs like “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” “Theme from ‘A Summer Place’” or “When I Fall in Love,” then your heart will likely skip an extra beat to learn that one of the 1960s most popular songsters – The Lettermen – will take the stage at the Summerton Cultural Arts Center on Friday, April 13.

Sponsored by the Summerton Downtown Development Association, The Lettermen follow a long line of nationally known artists to visit Clarendon County – a list that includes Pat Boone, Emile Pandolfi, Lee Greenwood, The Diamonds and Guy and Ralna from The Lawrence Welk Show.

The Summerton Downtown Development Association began sponsoring the concert series in 2003 in an effort to “make a difference in Summerton” by bringing the arts to the community and to assist in the revitalization of the downtown business district, according to Lillian Sconyers, who has been a part of the Association since its inception.
A “Meet the Artists” reception will follow The Lettermen concert at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Stukes on North Dukes Street, just blocks from the Arts Center. A separate ticket is required for the reception.

The Lettermen first appeared in February 1958 at the Desert Inn Hotel Resort in Las Vegas where Tony Butala, who still leads the group today, appeared with Mike Barnett and Talmadge Russell in the record-shattering revue, “Newcomers of 1928,” starring Paul Whiteman, silent film comic Buster Keaton, singers Rudy Vallee and Harry Richmond, film star Fifi D’Orsay and comedian Billy Gilbert.

The vision of The Lettermen was of three very strong soloists who had the ability and showmanship to perform and entertain an audience, but also had the discipline to be group singers. The sound they came up with was a cross between big band singers and early rhythm and blues groups.
By 1960, The Letterman – then Butala, Jim Pike and Bob Engemann – were signed to Warner Brothers Records and begin releasing records.

In the summer of 1961 they “hit the big time” with “The Way You Look Tonight” which climbed to No. 13 on the Billboard charts. The group’s second single that year, “When I Fall in Love” hit No. 7, establishing The Lettermen as one of the most romantic singing groups of the sixties.

Despite changing music tastes, The Lettermen have remained a huge draw both on television and in nightclubs and theaters around the globe.

Today, The Letterman, still fronted by Butala, and now including Donovan Tea and Mark Preston, pack every type of venue from outdoor festivals, to college campuses and casino showrooms.

There have been 47 Lettermen albums and 60 singles released since 1961. In 2001, The Lettermen were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Unlike many recording artists of today, the trio welcomes photographs with audience members after the show and promises to deliver a fantastic show that will entertain the entire audience – regardless of age!

Tickets for the concert are $35 per person and reception tickets, which are limited, are $25 per person.

Tickets are available at the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce in Manning, WenLily’s in Summerton, The Bank of Clarendon in Santee and Seaco Music in Sumter.

For additional information, contact Lillian Sconyers at 485-2225.