INFORMATION FOR
The Letterman, known for their lush vocal harmonies, and the first-known group to perform in William Paterson University’s Shea Center for Performing Arts when it opened in 1965, will present the final concert in Shea Center’s 60th anniversary season when they perform on campus on May 17, 2026. The concert begins at 3 p.m.
Since the group’s inception, The Lettermen have always taken a current song of the day and applied their three-part harmony, known as “Lettermenizing.” 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.” 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” hit No. 7, establishing The Lettermen as the most romantic singing group of a generation. The group has recorded over 75 albums, earning 18 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 classics such as “The Way You Look Tonight” and “Theme From a Summer Place.”
While always honoring their roots, The Letterman have also applied their harmonies to arrangements of current songs, such as “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”). They also play with the harmonies on songs like “Suspicious Minds,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” and “Over the Rainbow.”
Tickets range from $43 to $58. A discount is available for William Paterson faculty, staff, students, and alumni, as well as senior citizens.
To purchase tickets, or for additional information, call the Shea Center for Performing Arts Box Office at 973-720-2371 or visit wp-presents.org.
