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.
Pretty Blue Eyes
The Lettermen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And then you moved in next door
Pretty blue eyes
Pretty blue eyes
All the guys from the neighbourhood
Keep sayin' you sure look good
With your blue eyes
Saw you from my window
My heart skipped a beat
Gonna sit by your doorstep
So that I can meet
Pretty blue eyes
Please come out today
So I can tell you what I have to say
That I love you, love you pretty blue eyes
Saw you from my window
My heart skipped a beat
Gonna sit by your doorstep
So that I can meet
Pretty blue eyes
Please come out today
So I can tell you what I have to say
That I love you, love you pretty blue eyes
Pretty blue eyes
Pretty blue eyes
Pretty blue.
The Lettermen's song "Pretty Blue Eyes" is a charming and nostalgic love ballad that expresses the singer's infatuation with someone they have recently encountered. The lyrics convey a sense of innocence and excitement as the singer recounts discovering love in a new and unexpected way.
In the first verse, the singer reflects on their previous experiences of thinking they were in love, only to have those feelings overshadowed when they meet the person with pretty blue eyes who has moved in next door. This person has captured their attention and sparked a deeper level of affection. The repetition of "pretty blue eyes" emphasizes the captivating quality of the person's eyes and highlights their beauty.
The second verse introduces the neighborhood's acknowledgement of this person's attractiveness. The singer notes that all the guys in the neighborhood cannot help but comment on their impeccable appearance, placing further emphasis on their magnetism. The repetition of "pretty blue eyes" serves as a way to remind the listener of this person's most captivating feature.
The pre-chorus reveals the singer's initial encounter with the person. They describe seeing them from their window, and instantly their heart skips a beat, indicating the immediate connection and strong attraction they feel. The singer's desire to meet them is illustrated through the plan of sitting by their doorstep, hinting at an innocent and hopeful approach to starting a conversation.
The chorus shifts the focus to the singer's longing for the person to come outside so they can express their feelings. The repeated plea to the "pretty blue eyes" to emerge reflects the singer's eagerness to share their emotions. The chorus also emphasizes the depth of their love and desire for the person with the repetition of "love you."
The repetition of the chorus at the end reinforces the singer's longing for the person with pretty blue eyes to reciprocate their feelings. The song ends with the simple and sweet adoration of those "pretty blue eyes" once again.
Overall, "Pretty Blue Eyes" is a heartfelt song that captures the essence of infatuation, innocence, and longing. It portrays the singer's discovery of love and their ardent desire to express their affection to someone whose captivating gaze has stolen their heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Thought I was in love before
I thought I knew what love was, but now I realize I was mistaken
And then you moved in next door
But then you came into my life and everything changed
Pretty blue eyes
Your beautiful blue eyes captivate me
All the guys from the neighbourhood
Everyone in the neighborhood has noticed
Keep sayin' you sure look good
They all agree that you look great
With your blue eyes
Especially with those mesmerizing blue eyes
Saw you from my window
I caught a glimpse of you through my window
My heart skipped a beat
It made my heart race with excitement
Gonna sit by your doorstep
I'm planning to wait by your door
So that I can meet
In the hopes of finally meeting you
Please come out today
I'm eagerly waiting for you to come outside
So I can tell you what I have to say
So I can express my feelings to you
That I love you, love you pretty blue eyes
That I am deeply in love with you and your beautiful blue eyes
Pretty blue eyes
I can't stop thinking about those stunning blue eyes
Pretty blue eyes
Your eyes are truly captivating
Pretty blue.
The beauty of your blue eyes is beyond description
Lyrics © SEMI, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BOBBY WEINSTEIN, TEDDY RANDAZZO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Graphpack Jl
Bela gravação , para uma música inesquecível !!!!
Ben Gone
This is a great song done in the classic Letterman style....well done!
late fall chill
Nice clear version of the song with no background noise ... Thank you ... A favorite of mine.
the rockabillie
Beautiful song.
fasx56
Real winner you guys, your version adds to the many quality groups that have recorded this memorial classic.
moemann cann
fasx56 agreed 👍 The strings
ProudKansan08
My mom had a Lettermen album with this song on it, and she used to play it and then I'd play it when she didn't. I sing it once in a while. Such a great song. Had to hear it today. Thanks for posting it.
bhodges00
@peter walsh February 1964
peter walsh
What Year Did This Version Come Out Please
Joe Sampson
Good version, but I think that Steve Lawrence's version is better.