PHOTOS BY GLENDA S. PARADEE
The Lettermen performed at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts in Gilbert, Arizona on September 21, 2024.
They put on an amazing show.
They sang many of their greatest hits from throughout the years including "Cherish/Precious And Few", "What Now My Love", "When I Fall In Love", "Theme From A Summer Place", "Goin' Out Of My Head", "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", "Hurt So Bad", and many many more.
Donovan Tea did a solo of "Somewhere" that was amazing, and Rob Gulack did a solo of Cher's "Believe" in a slow version that was magnificent.
The Lettermen also did beautiful versions of "Don't Let The Sun Fall Down On Me", and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow".
The world may define harmony as a combination of musical sounds considered to be pleasing. The Lettermen define harmony as Lettermenizing.
Since the groups inception The Lettermen have always taken a current song of the day and put their 3-part harmony to it which is called Lettermenizing a song.
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 The Lettermen 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 play
lists 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.
The Lettermen have recorded over 75 albums - eighteen gold records internationally – and a myriad of hits including “When I Fall In Love”, “Goin’ Out Of My Head/Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” and “Put Your Head On My Shoulder” to name just a few. They continue to perform interesting, updated arrangements of several classics such as “The Way You Tonight” and “Theme From A Summer Place”.
While always honoring their roots, audiences are showing a resounding love for the “Letterminized” new arrangements of “Never Enough” from the mega-hit The Greatest Showman, “Sugar” Medley (“I Can’t Help Myself”, “Sugar”, “How Sweet It Is”) and “Happy” Medley (“Happy”, “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”, “Happy Together”).
These talented individuals interestingly play with the harmonies on songs like “Suspicious Minds”, “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” and “Over The Rainbow”. Their amazing vocals continually swoop over one another, mesmerizing audiences all over the world.
The one constant that has remained through the years is the unique three-part harmony as only The Lettermen can achieve. Though musical tastes have changed over the years, The Lettermen legacy continues. Harmony will always endure the true test of time - just as The Lettermen have stood the test of time.
THANKS FOR THE MUSIC THE LETTERMEN!
For more information about THE LETTERMEN, go to their website: https://www.thelettermen.com/
For upcoming shows at The Higley Center for the Performing Arts, go to their website: https://www.higleycenter.org
