Lettermen Bring Classic Harmonies to Paramount Performance

Media Contact:

Kristen Gleason
Director of Marketing
The Paramount Theater
215 East Main Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
434.979.1922 ext. 103
kristen@theparamount.net

For Immediate Release

August 25, 2006

Take three strong vocal soloists who combine great talent and showmanship with the discipline of group singers, and you have The Lettermen.   Part of Americana for over forty-five years, The Lettermen will bring their positive, quality harmony music to a performance for the whole family at The Paramount Theater on Sunday, September 10 at 4 pm.   This event is sponsored by A.G. Dillard Incorporated. 

The Letterman established themselves as the most romantic singing group of the sixties with a sound that is between big band vocal and early R&B rock.  Their more than 25 chart hit singles include "The Way You Look Tonight,"  "When I Fall In Love," "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You," "Theme From 'A Summer Place'," and"“Hurt So Bad."  In addition to the success of 32 consecutive albums which hit the US Top 100, The Lettermen have enjoyed worldwide acclaim touring Asia, Europe, South America, and the Middle East, recorded in over fourteen languages, and received eighteen gold records internationally.

The one change Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen, would have made in the four-decade career of the group is a surprising one.  "We chose the wrong name!" he exclaims.  "In the late fifties, when you started a vocal group and wanted to stand out from the crowd, all you had to do was use a novel new name that would give your group a unique look and image."  Most vocal groups of the time had school-type names such as The Four Freshmen and The Four Preps, so the trio wore letter sweaters and called themselves The Lettermen.  By the time those names became passé in the early sixties, The Lettermen already had a few hits.  While the sweaters did not last, the group's name, tremendous success, and loyal fan base has.

The current group — comprised of Butala and twenty-year members Donovan Scott Tea and Mark Preston — continues the enduring Lettermen popularity with performances that feature signature tunes as well as new renditions of songs like "Unchained Melody" and "Wind Beneath My Wings."  Seats for the September 10 concert at The Paramount are $44, $39, $36, and $33.  Tickets are available online or through The Paramount’s Box Office at 434.979.1333.  

For more information about The Lettermen, please visit www.thelettermen.com.