43-469: The Lettermen are an American male pop vocal trio whose trademark is close-harmony pop songs with light arrangements. The group started in 1959. They have had two Top 10 singles (both No. 7), 16 Top 10 singles on the Adult Contemporary chart (including one No. 1), 32 consecutive Billboard chart albums, 11 gold records , and five Grammy nominations. In 1958, the stage revue Newcomers of 1928
86-456: A "reimagined" version of the song for his album The Best of Me , which features a new piano arrangement. On November 24, 2022, the original music video was remastered to 1080p HD for a limited edition 12" double A-side red vinyl issue of the "Love This Christmas" single. A review in Pan-European magazine Music & Media considered that Astley's cover version as "surprisingly matching
129-511: A Cleo Award. The Lettermen were featured on the TV show Dobie Gillis in the episode "Vocal Boy Makes Good" which originally aired on January 16, 1963. The Lettermen were featured on The Jack Benny Program in the episode "The Lettermen" which originally aired on March 31, 1964. {S14 Ep25} In 1976, Jim Pike left the group because of vocal problems and sold the Lettermen name to Butala. After Gary Pike left
172-483: A group that is still recording today. Artists like The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel used close harmony, echoing their chosen role-models, The Everly Brothers . The Louvin Brothers were a duo that used close harmony in the genre of country music . Barbershop harmony has a unique harmonic structure: the melody is in the 2nd tenor or "lead" voice, while the 1st tenor takes the next part up, usually in 3rds, with
215-634: A name. Pike envisioned a group where each member was an excellent soloist as well as a great group singer. Pike and Butala joined with Bob Engemann (February 19, 1935 – January 20, 2013), a singer whom Pike had met when he attended Brigham Young University a few years earlier. (Pike and Engemann had come to Los Angeles, California and sung together until Engemann had to go into the California National Guard for six months; Pike then joined Bill Norvis and there met Butala.) The combination of Pike, Engemann, and Butala first recorded in 1960. They secured
258-536: A producer at Capitol. The audition was successful in getting them another record contract. 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), a five-member R&B group, and their not-so-successful single was called "Hey Big Brain". About that same time, there was a third group called the Lettermen Trio, headed up by Sammy Vandenburg, who also had no record success. But
301-607: A recording contract with Warner Bros. Records through Bob Engemann's older brother, Karl Engemann, who was a record producer there; Pike had earlier released a record for him, Lucy D , which was not successful. As "The Lettermen", Pike, Butala, and Engemann 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 . He got them out of their contract at Warner Bros. and made an appointment for them to see Nick Venet ,
344-494: A smash. Barnett and Russell were replaced midway through the run by Gary Clarke and Jerry Paul. When the show ended, Butala landed a job as singer/bass player in a lounge group, "Bill Norvis and the Upstarts", along with 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 on
387-470: Is more than an octave between the top and bottom notes. The more general term spacing describes how far apart the notes in a chord are voiced. A triad in close harmony has compact spacing, while one in open harmony has wider spacing. Close harmony or voicing can refer to both instrumental and vocal arrangements. It can follow the standard voice-leading rules of classical harmony, as in string quartets or Bach chorales , or proceed in parallel motion with
430-571: Is similar to the original since "the sweeping strings are exactly the same, note for note". Shipments figures based on certification alone. The cover version of "When I Fall in Love" by Canadian singer Celine Dion and British singer Clive Griffin was featured in the 1993 romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle , starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan , and released as a single in July same year. The song
473-453: The Billboard chart. A 1996 recording by Natalie Cole , sung as a duet with her father Nat King Cole using vocals from his 1956 version, won 1996 Grammys for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals and Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocal(s) . The version of "When I Fall in Love" by English singer-songwriter Rick Astley was released on November 30, 1987, coinciding with
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#1732851335702516-602: The Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack (number one on the Billboard 200 and 4× Platinum RIAA certification for selling over 4 million copies in the US), and later on Dion's album The Colour of My Love , released in November 1993. The song was also included on the japanese edition of Dion's compilation The Collector's Series, Volume One , released in 23 October 2000, on the greatest hits Complete Best , released in 27 February 2008, on
559-493: The Top 10 in late 1962 and hit No. 1 on AC. They had several other Top 10 AC hits , such as 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 1967 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 No. 12 and lasted 21 weeks on
602-459: The "Lettermen" of Pike, Engemann, and Butala had the first hit record , so, by law, they were entitled to use the "Lettermen" name exclusively. 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 climbed to No. 13. Their next, " When I Fall in Love ," reached
645-466: The 1930s. Close harmony singing was especially popular in the 1940s with pop and R&B groups using the technique quite frequently. The Andrews Sisters also capitalized on a similar style with swing music . Many gospel and soul groups in the 1950s and 60s also used this technique, usually 3- or 4-part SSAA or TTBB harmony with one person (either bass or lead) doing a call-and-response type lead. Examples of this are The Blind Boys of Alabama ,
688-405: The 30th anniversary of the release of Nat King Cole 's version of the song. This single is mainly remembered for a closely fought contest for UK Christmas number one . Rivals EMI , hoping to see their act, Pet Shop Boys , reach number one with " Always on My Mind ", re-released the version by Nat King Cole. This led to a slow down of purchases of Astley's version, allowing Pet Shop Boys to reach
731-504: The 3CD north american edition of the greatest hits My Love: Essential Collection , renamed "The Essential 3.0", released in 29 August 2011 and on the compilation The Best of Celine Dion & David Foster , released in 19 October 2012. The accompanying music video was directed by Dominic Orlando in Hollywood, Los Angeles . AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine remarked that Dion's album, The Colour of My Love , which featured
774-558: The Bubbling Under chart. "Heartache Oh Heartache" did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 122 on the Bubbling Under chart. "Allentown Jail" did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 123 on the Bubbling Under chart. "Put Away Your Tear Drops" did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 132 on the Bubbling Under chart. "Girl With a Little Tin Heart" did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 135 on
817-500: The Bubbling Under chart. "Sweet September" did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 114 on the Bubbling Under chart. "Chanson D'Amour" did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 112 on the Bubbling Under chart. "All the Grey Haired Men" did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 109 on the Bubbling Under chart. "I Have Dreamed" did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 129 on the Bubbling Under chart. "Hey Girl" did not chart on
860-469: The Hot 100, but hit No. 104 on the Bubbling Under chart. The 1976 release of "The Way You Look Tonight" was a new disco version. Close harmony A chord is in close harmony (also called close position or close structure ) if its notes are arranged within a narrow range , usually with no more than an octave between the top and bottom notes. In contrast, a chord is in open harmony (also called open position or open structure ) if there
903-443: The Hot 100, second only to the 22 weeks for The Archies ' " Sugar, Sugar " within that calendar year. The last successful single was in 1971, John Lennon 's " Love ", a solo by Jim Pike. The Lettermen have had two Top 10 singles (both No. 7), 16 Top 10 Adult Contemporary singles, including one Adult Contemporary No. 1, 32 consecutive Billboard Hot 200 charted albums, 11 gold records , five Grammy nominations, an Andy Award, and
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#1732851335702946-467: 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. 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 has stated that
989-413: The baritone and bass voices supporting. The bass line tends to be more rhythmic and covers the root notes of the harmonic progression, providing more "support" and independence than in classical vocal music, since Barbershop is usually sung a cappella. Barbershop can be sung by people of any gender. Public domain pieces, such as " Sweet Adeline ", and newer pieces are abundant. National organizations promote
1032-430: The chords have four or more notes and the harmonies are more complex. In jazz , this influence flowered in the works of George Gershwin and Duke Ellington . A well-known example of consistent instrumental close harmony is Glenn Miller 's " Moonlight Serenade " which uses the full range of single-reed wind instruments (soprano clarinet, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones) to make a distinctive sound by harmonizing
1075-546: The coveted top spot. Despite selling over 250,000 copies and gaining a Silver certification from the BPI, it peaked in the UK at number 2 for two weeks. The re-release by Nat King Cole reached number 4. Since the single was released as a double A-side , the other half of the single was " My Arms Keep Missing You ", which was successful in its own right in Europe. In 2019, Astley recorded and released
1118-811: The decades that they have interpreted these love songs. In 1969, in light of The Doors ' singer Jim Morrison 's arrest in Miami for indecent exposure, the Lettermen performed at a concert against indecency, along with Anita Bryant , Kate Smith , and Jackie Gleason . President Nixon supported the concert. The Lettermen had covered songs by the Doors in 1968. Bob Engemann died at age 77 in Provo, Utah on January 20, 2013 of complications from his December 13, 2012 heart bypass surgery. Jim Pike died from complications of Parkinson's disease on June 9, 2019, at his home in Prescott, Arizona . He
1161-464: The different sections all within a single octave. Miller studied the Schillinger technique with Joseph Schillinger , who is credited with helping Miller create the "Miller sound", and under whose tutelage he himself composed what became his signature theme, "Moonlight Serenade". In organ performance, block harmony means that close position chords are added below the melody in the right hand, and
1204-828: The entire length" of the song. "When I Fall in Love" reached top forty in several countries, including number 21 in Canada, number 22 in New Zealand, number 23 in the United States, and number 37 in the Netherlands. It was popular on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart and the US Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks , peaking at numbers two and six, respectively. Dion performed "When I Fall in Love" during her The Colour of My Love Tour , Falling Into You Around
1247-557: The first vocal recording released in April 1952 with the song's composer, Victor Young, handling the arranging and conducting duties. The song has become a standard, with many artists recording it; the first hit version was sung by Doris Day released in July 1952. Day's recording was made on June 5, 1952. It was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 39786 and issued with the flip side "Take Me in Your Arms". The song reached number 20 on
1290-429: The group ethos is that of three strong soloists that harmonize, and that the group encourages individual singing and songwriting. Butala has stated that the combination of himself, Donovan Tea (40 years) and Bobby Poynton (18 years) "is the best combination of voices, and best sounding group since the original trio." Butala also said this of the previous line-up of himself, Tea, and Mark Preston (11 years), thus highlighting
1333-424: The high standard of vocalists The Lettermen always had. This is also evident in the addition of Rob Gulack to the group in 2019 as Butala eased into retirement. Among their many songs include renditions of several traditional Filipino kundimans such as Dahil sa Iyo ("Because of You"), Sapagkat Kami Ay Tao Lamang ("For We Are Only Human"). Their enunciation and pronunciation in the language has developed over
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1376-427: The kind of vocal confidence that originally made Whitney Houston a star." Larry Flick from Billboard felt that Dion "is at home within an arrangement of delicate rhythms and sweeping orchestration", while also noting that Griffin's voice "is a pure thrill." Christopher Smith of Talk About Pop Music said that the singers "do credible justice to Nat ’s signature tune as she remains in subdued and romantic mood for
1419-525: The left hand doubles the melody an octave lower, while in open harmony the middle note of the chord is played an octave lower creating an "open" space in the chord. When I Fall in Love (song) " When I Fall in Love " is a popular song, written by Victor Young (music) and Edward Heyman (lyrics). It was introduced in Howard Hughes ' last film One Minute to Zero as the instrumental titled "Theme from One Minute to Zero". Jeri Southern sang on
1462-480: The melody in thirds or sixths . Origins of this style of singing are found in harmonies of the 1800s in America. Early radio quartets continued this tradition. Female harmonists, like The Boswell Sisters (" Mood Indigo ", 1933) and The Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce ("Who? You That's Who!", 1927), who then became Three X Sisters , performed and recorded this style in the 1920s, and continued it on commercial radio of
1505-588: The more traditional TTBB or SSAA 4-part structure, but with heavy use of solos and call-and-response, which is rooted in the African American church. These groups sometimes sang a cappella but also used instrumental backing, especially when recorded by the bigger labels. Pop music and doo-wop can be seen as a commercialization of this genre. Impressionist composers like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel often used close harmony in their works and other intervals, such as 7ths, 9ths, and 11ths may be used since
1548-457: The music with local chapters in many communities. Soul and gospel groups flourished in America in the years after World War II, building on the foundation of blues, 1930s gospel songs and big band music. Originally called " race music " by white mainstream radio and its target market, it was the precursor to rock and roll and rhythm and blues of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, influencing many English and American artists of that era. They often used
1591-474: The original" and added: "With the romantic string arrangements and Astley's mature vocals, the perfect seasonal single, bound for a no. 1 in the UK". When reviewing the parent album, British magazine Music Week underlined the track, adding that Astley "stretches his vocal chords on a credible and reverent recreation" of Cole's song. In the same magazine, Jerry Smith deemed it a potential hit in spite of "the cloying strings arrangement", and added that this cover
1634-427: The song, had "careful production, professional songwriting (highlighted by "When I Fall in Love", " The Power of Love ", and " Think Twice "). J.D. Considine from The Baltimore Sun wrote that "it's no accident that Celine Dion keeps recording all those movie-theme duets -- she's got the perfect voice for wide-screen romance, all unbridled power and telegraphed emotion." He added that "she sounds great, demonstrating
1677-415: Was "not a patch" on Cole's original version. Chris Heath of Smash Hits praised the song as "brilliantly effective" with a "plinkety-plonkety orchestration and Rick crooning away, sounding uncannily like a 50 year old Frank Sinatra type". In another issue of the same magazine, Lola Borg considered it as "truly splendid" and added that Astley "ably croons a slushy lump of woefulness" and that this version
1720-479: Was 82. Current members Past members {{Columns-list|colwidth=30em| Footnotes: "Son of Old Rivers," a parody of " Old Rivers " by Walter Brennan , was recorded by Engemann and Pike. "Turn Around, Look at Me," the b-side of "How Is Julie?," did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 105 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. "Again" did not chart on the Hot 100, but hit No. 120 on
1763-692: Was chief comedy writer for the Jimmy Durante TV show, had auditioned the singers, and he decided to name the group "The Lettermen" for the show. Newcomers of 1928 opened on February 28, 1958, at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas , Nevada . 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
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1806-435: Was produced, a nostalgia act which starred 1920s stars Paul Whiteman , Buster Keaton , Rudy Vallée , Harry Richman , and Fifi D'Orsay . The show required three male singers to impersonate The Rhythm Boys , the vocal group that traveled with Whiteman and his orchestra in the late 1920s, and gave Bing Crosby his initial fame. The three singers selected were Mike Barnett, Dick Stewart, and Tony Butala . Jackie Barnett, who
1849-501: Was recorded expressly for the soundtrack and was originally intended as a duet between Dion and Stevie Wonder , but according to Dion when she heard the demo performed by Warren Wiebe she preferred that would be her duet with Wiebe. It was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1994, and won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) . The award went to David Foster and Jeremy Lubbock. The song appears on both,
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