Tommy Tutone is an American power pop band, known for its 1981 song "867-5309/Jenny", which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The band's lead singer, rhythm guitarist, and occasional keyboardist is Tommy Heath. He is the only active original member currently touring as Tommy Tutone. Heath grew up in Philadelphia, Texas, and Montana before moving to San Francisco during the Summer of Love to become a hippie. There, he formed the band with Jim Keller and Terry Nails in 1978, naming it after his nickname. The band's first single, "Angel Say No", was released in 1980 and reached the top 40, and they opened for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on his US tour for Damn the Torpedoes.
Tommy Tutone | |
|---|---|
 Tommy Tutone in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | California, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, pop rock, power pop, new wave |
| Years active | 1978–1984, 1996–present |
| Labels | Columbia/CBS Records Spectra Records |
| Members | Tommy Heath Jimmy James Steve Fister Kerry Movassagh |
| Past members |
|
| Website | tutone |
The band's second album, Tommy Tutone 2, was released in 1981 and featured "867-5309/Jenny". The song became so popular that people in the United States still prank call the number and ask for Jenny today. In 2006, VH1 named it the 36th-greatest song of the 1980s.
As of January 2024[update], Heath is living in Portland, Oregon, and back touring as Tommy Tutone. A new studio album is set to release the fall of 2024.
History
editTommy Heath and Jim Keller founded the band in 1978 along with bassist Terry Nails (Steve Jones, Ozzy Osbourne), with Heath acting as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, also playing keyboards on occasion. Keller played lead guitar and Terry Nails played bass and provided supporting vocals. Heath and Keller were the only constant members of Tommy Tutone, with the lineup featured a rotating membership of bassists and drummers.
Bassist Jon Lyons, who performed on "867-5309/Jenny", replaced founding member Terry Nails, but was soon himself replaced by Greg Sutton, Pete Costello, and in 1988 Jimmy James. Mona Gnader, the bassist in Sammy Hagar's The Waboritas band, played with the band as well. Original drummer Kenny Johnson (of Chris Isaak's band) was replaced by Mickey Shine (Clover and the first Elvis Costello album), then Victor Carberry for the band's second album, and later Jerry Angel. John Cowsill of The Cowsills played percussion (and sang) on "867-5309/Jenny".[1]
From 2001 to 2010, the band consisted of Heath, Jimmy James, guitarist Greg Georgeson, and drummer Andy Gauthier. In 2007, the band signed a recording contract with Spectra Records. By 2012, Tommy Heath had become a computer analyst and software engineer and moved to Portland, Oregon.[2][3]
In 2017, with the addition of Steve Fister (Steppenwolf, Lita Ford) on guitar, Jimmy James switched to drums and the band released the single "My Little Red Book".
Jim Keller went on to become the director of Philip Glass's publishing company, Dunvagen Music Publishers.[4] He still performs in New York City.
In 2019, the band released their first studio album since 1998, Beautiful Ending.
In 2024, the band is reunited and touring. A new studio album will be released in the fall entitled New Wave Americana.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [5] |
CAN [6] | ||||||||
| 1980 | Tommy Tutone
|
68 | 82 | ||||||
| 1981 | Tommy Tutone 2
|
20 | 44 | ||||||
| 1983 | National Emotion
|
179 | — | ||||||
| 1996 | Nervous Love
|
— | — | ||||||
| 1998 | Tutone.rtf
|
— | — | ||||||
| 2019 | Beautiful Ending
|
— | — | ||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | |||||||||
Singles
edit| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) |
Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [7] |
US Main [7] |
CAN [8] |
AUS [9] |
NZ [10] | ||||||
| 1980 | "Angel Say No" | 38 | — | — | — | — | Tommy Tutone | |||
| 1980 | "Cheap Date" | — | — | — | — | — | Tommy Tutone | |||
| 1980 | "Girl In The Back Seat" | — | — | — | — | — | Tommy Tutone | |||
| 1981 | "867-5309/Jenny" | 4 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 32 | Tommy Tutone 2 | |||
| 1982 | "Which Man Are You" | —[12] | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 1983 | "Get Around Girl" | — | — | — | — | — | National Emotion | |||
| 2017 | "My Little Red Book" | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album singles | |||
| 2018 | "Time Won't Let Me" | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| 2018 | "When You Walk in the Room " | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||||||||
References
edit- ^ "The Cowsills: Discography - John Cowsill Related". www.cowsill.com. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ Staff (2012-08-08). "Where Are They Now? 1982's Biggest Pop Acts-Catch up with A Flock of Seagulls, Toni Basil, Tommy Tutone and more though". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
- ^ Wells, Shannon (2013-11-15). "Tommy Tutone leader finds there's life well after 'Jenny'". Portland Tribune - Pamplin Media Group. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
- ^ Baynes, Luke (2012-05-31). "Life after 'Jenny'". Williston Observer. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
- ^ "allmusic ((( Tommy Tutone > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Albums/CDs". RPM. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ a b "allmusic ((( Tommy Tutone > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Singles". RPM. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 311. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - October 15, 2010: Tommy Tutone certified singles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
- ^ "Which Man Are You" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 1 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.