McPHERSON — The Lettermen will perform on Wednesday, March 25, at 7:30 p.m. at the McPherson Opera House.
For more than 50 years, The Lettermen: Donovan Tea, Bobby Poynton and Rob Gulack, each of whom are entertainers in their own right, have kept the meaning of harmony alive with their soft, romantic, harmonic blend of music which is as popular with their fans today as it was in 1961 when they recorded their first hit, “The Way You Look Tonight.” For The Lettermen debut single record in the summer of 1961, Capitol Records decided to put a romantic ballad on the B-side of “That’s My Desire,” which was an attempt at a doo-wop single, figuring radio stations would have to play the A-side because the B-side was so sweet, and slow, and did not necessarily encompass the commercial sound of the day. The B-side was “The Way You Look Tonight.” Soft, melodic and romantic, it was a departure from the rock ‘n’ roll music of the day. Eventually, listener requests made it a must for radio station playlists nationwide. The song shot to No. 13, on the Billboard chart.
The group’s second single that year did even better. “When I Fall In Love,” another soft, slow ballad, hit No. 7, establishing The Lettermen as the most romantic singing group of a generation. To their credit, The Lettermen have over 75 albums – numerous certified gold – and countless hits including “Come Back Silly Girl,” “Theme From A Summer Place,” “Goin’ Out Of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,” “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” “Hurt So Bad” and “Shangri-La.” Even though there have been personnel changes over the years, the one thing that has remained constant is the vision that Tony Butala first dreamed of – that unique three-part harmony as only The Lettermen can achieve. Though musical tastes have changed over the years, The Lettermen’s legacy continues.
Tickets range from $30-$55 and are available at www.mcphersonoperahouse.org, by calling 620-241-1952, or visiting the box office at 219 S. Main Street, McPherson. Student tickets, $20, and group ticket sales are available through the box office.
