The group was formed in late 1950s by Mike Barnett, Dick Stewart and Tony Butala. They auditioned for Jackie Barnett, chief comedy writer for the Jimmy Durante TV show. They landed the part to impersonate The Rhythm Boys, the vocal group that traveled with Paul Whiteman and his orchestra in the late 1920s, and gave Bing Crosby his initial fame. The "Newcomers of 1928" review opened on 28 February 1958 at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, Nevada. This review also starred Paul Whiteman, Buster Keaton, Rudy Vallée, Harry Richmond and Fifi D'Orsay. They played to sell-out audiences and were held over for many weeks. This review also played a six week review at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, with Butala being the only consistent Letterman. Barnett and Russell were replaced by Gary Clarke and Jerry Paul. When the review ended, Butala landed a job as singer/bass player in a lounge group, "Bill Norvas and the Upstarts", with Gary Clarke. After a few months, Clarke left the group and was replaced by Jim Pike. Pike and Butala decided to leave the Upstarts and resume the Lettermen although they had not yet decided to use the Lettermen name. Pike envisioned a group where each member was an excellent soloist as well as a competent group singer. Pike recommended the third Letterman should be Bob Engemann, a singer that Pike had met when he attended Brigham Young University a few years earlier. Both had come to Los Angeles, California, and sang together in different combinations until Engemann had go into the National Guard for 6 months. At that point, Pike joined Bill Norvis and met Butala. This combination first recorded in late 1959.
They secured a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records through Bob Engemann's older brother, Karl Engemann, who was a record producer there, and for whom Pike had released a record earlier called "Lucy D", which was not successful. Pike, Butala and Engemann as "The Lettermen" released two singles in 1960. The A-sides were "Two Hearts" and "There Hearts Were Full Of Spring". They were not successful. Karl Engemann moved on to Capitol Records as President of A&R. He got them out of their contract at Warner Bros., and made an appointment with Nick Venet, a producer at Capitol and they were signed.
There was another "Lettermen" group in the late 1950s and early 1960s that recorded for Liberty Records, (which was a major label at the time). They were an R&B group with five members, and their single was called "Hey Big Brain". But the "Lettermen" of Pike, Engemann and Butala had the first hit record, so they were entitled to exclusively use the "Lettermen" name. There was also a group in the mid 1950s called The Lettermen Trio, but had no record success.
The Lettermen were unknown until they signed with Capitol Records in 1961. Their first single for Capitol, "The Way You Look Tonight," succeeded on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart, and their next, "When I Fall in Love," reached the Top 10 in late 1962. They had several other Top 10 hits, such as the 1965's, "Theme From A Summer Place". In late 1967 Bob Engemann resigned, and was replaced by Jim Pike's younger brother, Gary Pike. The hits continued with the 1968 medley "Goin' Out of My Head"/"Can't Take My Eyes Off You", and in 1968 with "Put Your Head on My Shoulder", plus 1969's "Hurt So Bad", which reached number 12. The last successful single was in 1972, "Love" a solo by Pike.
The Lettermen have had 32 consecutive Billboard Magazine chart albums, 11 gold records, five Grammy nominations, an Andy Award, and a Cleo Award. In 1976, Jim Pike left the group and sold the Lettermen name to Butala.
In 1981 Gary Pike left the Lettermen, and today Jim and Gary Pike, along with Ric de Azevedo, sing The Lettermen hits, billed as Reunion.
In 1961, The Lettermen started performing live concerts doing over 100 shows a year, an unbroken string that continues to the present now amounting to 46 years.
Over the decades, the group has had various line-ups, replacing members who left for various reasons with new people to maintain a trio. Tony Butala, who (as of 2007) 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.
They pride themselves in welcoming audience member photographs during the show, unlike many recording acts.
Moon River
The Lettermen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm crossin' you in style someday.
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker,
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin'your way.
Two drifters, off to see the world.
There's such a lot of world to see.
We're after the same rainbow's end,
Waitin' round the bend,
Moon River and me.
In the song "Moon River," the Lettermen are singing about a river that is spread wider than a mile. The river serves as a metaphor for life and the many paths that one can take. They are crossing the river in style, indicating that they are looking forward to the journey that lies ahead. The old dream maker is mentioned, referring to someone who helps to make dreams come true, while also being a "heartbreaker," causing one to feel conflicted about which way to go. The Lettermen express that wherever this dream maker goes, they will follow.
The Lettermen then mention how they are two drifters who are off to see the world. This could mean that they plan on traveling to different places and experiencing new things. They recognize that there is a lot of world out there to explore. They are chasing the end of the rainbow, which is essentially a metaphor for finding something that is valuable and desired, but perhaps elusive. The last two lines mention their "huckleberry friend," referring to someone they can depend on and share this journey with, as well as the river itself. This could be interpreted as a reference to the timeless nature of the river, which is always there to guide us.
Line by Line Meaning
Moon River, wider than a mile
The singer is referring to a river that is wide, and is known as 'Moon River'.
I'm crossin' you in style someday.
The singer intends to cross the Moon River in a stylish manner, at some point in the future.
Old dream maker, you heartbreaker,
The singer is referring to the Moon River as an old dream maker, who has the potential to break hearts.
Wherever you're goin', I'm goin'your way.
The artist intends to follow the Moon River's path wherever it goes.
Two drifters, off to see the world.
Two people are wandering aimlessly to explore the world around them.
There's such a lot of world to see.
The world is vast and there are a lot of new things for them to experience.
We're after the same rainbow's end,
The two drifters are seeking the end of a rainbow, which symbolizes their shared aspirations and goals.
Waitin' round the bend,
The end of the rainbow is not within sight, but they are hopeful and patiently waiting for it to come into view.
My huckleberry friend,
The artist is addressing the Moon River as a friend, using the term 'huckleberry' as a term of endearment.
Moon River and me.
The artist and the Moon River are traveling companions, sharing a journey through life and the world around them.
Lyrics © Tratore
Written by: Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karen van patten
I had several of their albums way back in the 1960’s. They were one of my favorites as a teenager. I still love their music.
Jenell Deputado
The Softest Voices at All Times no one can Replace Lettermen....😍😍😍
Thomas Carson
Very beautiful!
Lynn O
Still beautiful in 2019 🌹
Zev Feldman
BEAUTIFUL VERSION
Vanderlei Amorin de Alencar
que lindo video , transmite uma paz intensa...parabéns
MissMusicPro
The guys found a fourth voice somewhere on this four part harmony arrangement. I'm told they used Glen Campbell on occasion as a singer. Also, he played guitar on a bunch of early Lettermen albums as a studio musician before he had his first hit for Capitol, and was their friend.
carlos marabillo
So cool and lovely song of the Lettermen.
HEMISUPERBEE426 DAVID
GREAT VIDEO.....AWESOME GROUP !
Sonia Khatri
What a dreamy tribute to Audrey Hepburn... Wow