The year 2010 marked the group’s 50th Anniversary. When did Mark Preston join The Lettermen? While touring, he frequently ran into The Lettermen, and in 1984, at the invitation of co-founder Tony Butala, Preston joined the group.

PHYLLIS DILLER REFERS TO MARK PRESTON AS “THE FINEST VOICE AROUND.” IN 1984, MARK WAS ASKED TO JOIN THE WORLD FAMOUS RECORDING GROUP, “THE LETTERMEN”. DURING HIS 10 YEARS AS A MEMBER OF THE GROUP, MARK RECORDED SEVERAL CDS AND ALBUMS.

Their beautiful harmony truly is timeless. The current Lettermen consist of Tony Butala (The group’s only original member), Donovan Scott Tea (an accomplished singer and songwriter who joined the group in 1984) and Robert Poynton (who originally joined in 1990, left in 1995 and rejoined in 2011).

A Lettermen group was formed in the late 1950s by Mike Barnett, Dick Stewart and Tony Butala. They auditioned for Jackie Barnett (who was chief comedy writer for the Jimmy Durante TV show) for the “Newcomers of 1928” revue.

Pike, Butala, and Engemann as “The Lettermen” released two singles in 1960 for Warner Bros. The A-sides were “Two Hearts” and ” Their Hearts Were Full of Spring “. They were not successful. After Warner Bros., Karl Engemann moved on to Capitol Records as President of A&R.

In 2001, the Lettermen were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall Of Fame and in early 2020, the group was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. The late, great, Tennessee Ernie Ford was right when he spoke of Mark Preston.

When did Gary Pike leave the Lettermen?

After Gary Pike left the Lettermen in 1981, the Pike brothers along with Ric de Azevedo sang The Lettermen hits, billed as “Reunion”. In 1961, The Lettermen started performing live concerts, doing over 200 shows a year, an unbroken string that continues to the present.

Pike envisioned a group where each member was an excellent soloist as well as a great group singer. Pike and Butala joined with the third Letterman, Bob Engemann (February 19, 1935 – January 20, 2013), a singer that Pike had met when he attended Brigham Young University a few years earlier.

There was another “Lettermen” group in the late 1950s and early 1960s that recorded for Liberty Records (which was a major record label at the time), an R&B group with five members, and their not-so-successful single was called “Hey Big Brain”.

Bob Engemann (1959–1967) – Sold his interest in Lettermen name to Pike and Butala in 1967. Died January 20, 2013. Jim Pike (1959–1974) – Sold his shares and interest in the Lettermen name to Butala in 1976. Died June 9, 2019.

A Lettermen group was formed in the late 1950s by Mike Barnett, Dick Stewart, and Tony Butala. They auditioned for Jackie Barnett (who was chief comedy writer for the Jimmy Durante TV show) for the “Newcomers of 1928” revue. It was Barnett who gave the group their name. Now as “The Lettermen”, 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” revue opened on February 28, 1958, at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas, Nevada, and also starred Paul Whiteman, Buster Keaton, Rudy Vallée, Harry Richman, and Fifi D’Orsay. They played to sell-out audiences and were held over for many weeks. Continuing with a six-week tryout at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, the idea continued to be a smash, with Butala being the lone consistent Letterman. Barnett and Russell were replaced by Gary Clarke and Jerry Paul. When the tryout ended, Butala landed a job as singer/bass player in a lounge group, “Bill Norvis and the Upstarts”, with Gary Clarke. After a few months, Clarke left the group and was replaced by Jim Pike (November 6, 1936 – June 9, 2019). Pike and Butala decided to leave the Upstarts and form a new group 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 great group singer. Pike and Butala joined with the third Letterman, Bob Engemann (February 19, 1935 – January 20, 2013), a singer that Pike had met when he attended Brigham Young University a few years earlier. (Pike and Engemann had come to Los Angeles, California, and had sung together until Engemann had to go into the California National Guard for 6 months. That’s why Pike joined Bill Norvis and there met Butala.) The combination of Pike, Engemann and Butala first recorded in 1960.

After a few months, Clarke left the group and was replaced by Jim Pike (November 6, 1936 – June 9, 2019). Pike and Butala decided to leave the Upstarts and form a new group although they had not yet decided to use the Lettermen name.

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Along with Donovan Tea (who started the same day) the trio released several singles, and two albums. Preston left the group in 1988, and returned to a solo career that encompassed showrooms around the country, and many different cruise lines.

How long did Mark perform with the Lettermen?

Mark accepted and he performed for a total of 11 years with the group. During that time, the group recorded several albums and CDs.

After his Honorable Discharge from the Air Force and a string of impressive performances at one of Los Angeles’ oldest clubs, The Horn, Mark decided to make his next career move to Las Vegas. Mark Preston became a featured performer at The Dunes, The Silverbird, The Marina and The Sahara hotels.

This elite group is made up of the Air Force’s top 20, most versatile entertainers. During his time in the Air Force, Mark was awarded the American Spirit Honor Medal as well as the Air Force Commendation Medal . Mark never flew under the radar when it came to his career and talent.

Singing since he was a child, Mark took every opportunity he could to sing for those who would listen and those who believed in his talent. Growing up in Indiana gave Mark plenty of opportunity to perform and grow with his talent.

Mark’s star was not yet shining bright enough. While he was performing on the Bob Braun Show, he was asked to open for the First Lady of Comedy, Phyllis Diller. “I love to refer to Mark Preston as my protégé”, said Ms. Diller.

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