Jump to content

Tommy Tutone: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
m Reverted edit by 192.169.22.114 (talk) to last version by Esrever
 
(330 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Tommy Tutone''' is a [[rock music|rock]] band from [[San Francisco]], [[California]], best known for its [[1982 in music|1982]] hit "[[867-5309/Jenny]]", which peaked at #4 on the Billboard pop charts. The song became so popular that people in the [[United States]] to this day dial this [[telephone number]] and ask for "Jenny" as a [[prank]]. Regarding the famous number, "We had people threatening to sue us. It was the Chief of Police in Buffalo's daughter's number in New York," said [[Tommy Heath]]. Although they are frequently remembered as a "[[one-hit wonder]]", they actually had another top 40 hit on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] with "Angel Say No" in 1980, predating "Jenny" by a couple of years.


{{short description|American rock band}}
A common misconception is that Tommy Tutone is the name of the lead singer; it is the name of the band. The lead singer's name is Tommy Heath. The name of the band developed from the original name "Tommy and the Tu-tones" to merely Tommy Tutone.


{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
[[Tommy Heath]] and [[Jim Keller (guitarist)|Jim Keller]] founded the band in the late 1970s, with Heath acting as the lead vocalist, also playing keyboards; Keller playing lead guitar and supporting vocals. Bassist [[Jon Lyons]] was later replaced by [[Greg Sutton (bassist)|Greg Sutton]] and drummer [[Victor Carberry]] with [[Jerry Angel]]. [[Steve LeGassick]] joined later, playing keyboards and synthesizer.
| name = Tommy Tutone
| image = File:Greenv1.jpg
| caption = Tommy Tutone in 2017
| background = group_or_band
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}}
| origin = [[California]], U.S.
| instrument =
| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]], [[pop rock]], [[power pop]], [[New wave music|new wave]]
| occupation =
| years_active = 1978–1984, 1996–present
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]/[[Sony Music Entertainment|CBS Records]]<br>Spectra Records
| website = {{URL|tutone.com}}
| current_members = [[Tommy Heath]]<br>[[Jimmy James (musician)|Jimmy James]]<br>Steve Fister<br>Kerry Movassagh
| past_members = {{plainlist|
* Jerry Angel
* Victor Carberry
* Pete Costello
* John Cowsill
* Mona Gnader
* [[Jim Keller]]
* Joe Lamond
* Jon Lyons
* Terry Nails
* Mickey Shine
* Greg Sutton
* Greg Georgeson
*Garfeild Redden
* Andy Gauthier
| manager =
* Chris Redburn


}}
Tommy Heath is now a computer analyst and resides in [[Portland, Oregon]].
}}


'''Tommy Tutone''' is an American [[power pop]] [[musical ensemble|band]], known for its 1981 song "[[867-5309/Jenny]]", which peaked at #4 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''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 (album)|Damn the Torpedoes]]''.
==Chart positions==
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="60%">
<tr>
<th align="left">Year</th>
<th align="left">Single</th>
<th align="left">Chart</th>
<th align="left">Peak</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1980</td>
<td>"Angel Say No"</td>
<td>Pop Singles</td>
<td>38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1982</td>
<td>"867-5309/Jenny"</td>
<td>Mainstream Rock </td>
<td>1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1982</td>
<td>"867-5309/Jenny"</td>
<td>Pop Singles</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="60%">
<tr>
<th align="left">Year</th>
<th align="left">Album</th>
<th align="left">Chart</th>
<th align="left">Peak</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1980</td>
<td>''[[Tommy Tutone]]''</td>
<td>Pop Albums</td>
<td>68</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1982</td>
<td>''[[Tommy Tutone-2]]''</td>
<td>Pop Albums</td>
<td>20</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1983</td>
<td>''[[National Emotion]]''</td>
<td>Pop Albums</td>
<td>179</td>
</tr>
</table>


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.{{fact|date=November 2024}} In 2006, [[VH1]] named it the 36th-greatest song of the 1980s.
==External link==
* [http://www.tutone.com Official website]
* [http://80srockvideos.blogspot.com/2007/02/tommy-tutone-867-5309jenny.html Tommy Tutone - 867-5309/Jenny Music Video]


{{As of|2024|1}}, Heath is living in [[Portland, Oregon]], and back touring as Tommy Tutone. A new studio album is set to release in fall 2024.
{{US-rock-band-stub}}


==History==
[[Category:Rock music groups]]
[[Tommy Heath]] and [[Jim Keller (musician)|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.
[[simple:Tommy Tutone]]

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 (musician)|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 (band)|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".<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Cowsills: Discography - John Cowsill Related |url=http://www.cowsill.com/discography/music-john.html |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=www.cowsill.com}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/where-are-they-now-1982s-biggest-pop-acts-20120808/tommy-tutone-0079633 |author=Staff |title=Where Are They Now? 1982's Biggest Pop Acts-Catch up with A Flock of Seagulls, Toni Basil, Tommy Tutone and more though |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2012-08-08 |access-date=2017-03-15}} </ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://portlandtribune.com/ttt/91-features/201427-tommy-tutone-leader-finds-theres-life-well-after-jenny |author=Wells, Shannon |title=Tommy Tutone leader finds there's life well after 'Jenny' |publisher=Portland Tribune - Pamplin Media Group |date=2013-11-15 |access-date=2017-03-15}}</ref>

In 2017, with the addition of Steve Fister ([[Steppenwolf (band)|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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.willistonobserver.com/life-after-jenny/ |author=Baynes, Luke |title=Life after 'Jenny' |publisher=Williston Observer |date=2012-05-31 |access-date=2017-03-15}}</ref> 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==

===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Album details
! colspan="2"| Peak chart<br>positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="40"| [[Billboard 200|US]]<br><ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=tommy-tutone-p5717/charts-awards/billboard-albums|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic ((( Tommy Tutone > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))|website=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=October 15, 2010}}</ref>
! width="40"| [[Canadian Albums Chart|CAN]]<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=pqk82h2rmrh2f0um1smhvhui11&q1=Tommy+Tutone&q2=&interval=20|title=Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Albums/CDs|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222143107/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=pqk82h2rmrh2f0um1smhvhui11&q1=Tommy+Tutone&q2=&interval=20|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 1980
| align="left"| '''''Tommy Tutone'''''
* Release date: February 17, 1980
* Label: [[Columbia Records|Columbia]]/[[Sony Music Entertainment|CBS Records]]
| 68
| 82
|-
| 1981
| align="left"| '''''[[Tommy Tutone 2]]'''''
* Release date: September 23, 1981
* Label: Columbia/CBS Records
| 20
| 44
|-
| 1983
| align="left"| '''''[[National Emotion]]'''''
* Release date: April 16, 1983
* Label: Columbia/CBS Records
| 179
| —
|-
| 1996
| align="left"| '''''Nervous Love'''''
* Release date: January 22, 1996
* Label: Appaloosa Records
* Note: re-released in 2011 as ''A Long Time Ago''
| —
| —
|-
| 1998
| align="left"| '''''Tutone.rtf'''''
* Release date: July 28, 1998
* Label: Secret Disc Records
| —
| —
|-
| 2019
| align="left"| '''''Beautiful Ending'''''
* Release date: May 9, 2019
* Label: One Music Group
| —
| —
|-
| colspan="10" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart
|-
|}

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="5" | Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| [[Music recording sales certification|Certifications]]<br><small>([[List of best selling music artists|sales threshold]])</small>
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! width="35"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="Allmusic singles">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=tommy-tutone-p5717/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}}|title=allmusic ((( Tommy Tutone > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))|website=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=October 15, 2010}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks|US Main]]<br><ref name="Allmusic singles" />
! width="35"| [[Canadian Singles Chart|CAN]]<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=dma67g42kkbqdp5i29difiq110&q1=Tommy+Tutone&q2=Top+Singles&interval=20|title=Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Singles|magazine=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|access-date=October 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114148/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=dma67g42kkbqdp5i29difiq110&q1=Tommy+Tutone&q2=Top+Singles&interval=20|archive-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[Kent Music Report|AUS]]<br><ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=311}}</ref>
! width="35"| [[RIANZ|NZ]]<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/search.asp?search=tommy+tutone&cat=s|title=charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal|publisher=charts.nz|access-date=October 15, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| 1980
| align="left"| "Angel Say No"
| 38
| —
| —
|—
| —
|
| ''Tommy Tutone''
|-
| 1980
| align="left"| "Cheap Date"
| —
| —
| —
|—
| —
|
| ''Tommy Tutone''
|-
| 1980
| align="left"| "Girl In The Back Seat"
| —
| —
| —
|—
| —
|
| ''Tommy Tutone''
|-
| 1981
| align="left"| "[[867-5309/Jenny]]"
| 4
| 1
| 2
|22
| 32
| align="left"|
* [[Recording Industry Association of America|US]]: Gold<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Tommy%20Tutone&format=SINGLE&go=Search&perPage=50|title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum - October 15, 2010: Tommy Tutone certified singles|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=October 15, 2010}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"|''Tommy Tutone 2''
|-
| 1982
| align="left"| "Which Man Are You"
| —<ref>"Which Man Are You" did not enter the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, but peaked at number 1 on the [[Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles]] chart.</ref>
| —
| —
|—
| —
|
|-
| 1983
| align="left"| "Get Around Girl"
| —
| —
| —
|—
| —
|
| align="left"|''National Emotion''
|-
| 2017
| align="left"| "[[My Little Red Book]]"
| —
| —
| —
|—
| —
|
| rowspan="3" {{N/A|Non-album singles}}
|-
| 2018
| align="left"| "Time Won't Let Me"
| —
| —
| —
|—
| —
|
|-
| 2018
| align="left"| "When You Walk in the Room "
| —
| —
| —
|—
| —
|
|-
| colspan="11" style="font-size:8pt" | "—" denotes releases that did not chart
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.tutone.com Official Tommy Tutone page]
* [https://www.instagram.com/therealtommytutone Official Tommy Tutone Instagram]
* [https://www.facebook.com/share/PTyZ4LkjTSBY1C3v/?mibextid=K35XfP Official Tutone Facebook page]
* [http://www.rockerzine.com/index.php/2014/05/tommy-tutone-more-than-a-number/ Interview 2014: Rocker Magazine "Tommy Tutone: More Than A Number" ]

{{Tommy Tutone}}

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Rock music groups from California]]
[[Category:American power pop groups]]
[[Category:American pop rock music groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1978]]
[[Category:Columbia Records artists]]
[[Category:People from Willits, California]]
[[Category:1978 establishments in California]]

Latest revision as of 02:23, 27 December 2024

Tommy Tutone
Tommy Tutone in 2017
Tommy Tutone in 2017
Background information
OriginCalifornia, U.S.
GenresRock, pop rock, power pop, new wave
Years active1978–1984, 1996–present
LabelsColumbia/CBS Records
Spectra Records
MembersTommy Heath
Jimmy James
Steve Fister
Kerry Movassagh
Past members
  • Jerry Angel
  • Victor Carberry
  • Pete Costello
  • John Cowsill
  • Mona Gnader
  • Jim Keller
  • Joe Lamond
  • Jon Lyons
  • Terry Nails
  • Mickey Shine
  • Greg Sutton
  • Greg Georgeson
  • Garfeild Redden
  • Andy Gauthier
Websitetutone.com

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.

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.[citation needed] In 2006, VH1 named it the 36th-greatest song of the 1980s.

As of January 2024, Heath is living in Portland, Oregon, and back touring as Tommy Tutone. A new studio album is set to release in fall 2024.

History

[edit]

Tommy 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

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Year Album details Peak chart
positions
US
[5] 		CAN
[6]
1980 Tommy Tutone 68 82
1981 Tommy Tutone 2
  • Release date: September 23, 1981
  • Label: Columbia/CBS Records
 20 44
1983 National Emotion
  • Release date: April 16, 1983
  • Label: Columbia/CBS Records
 179 —
1996 Nervous Love
  • Release date: January 22, 1996
  • Label: Appaloosa Records
  • Note: re-released in 2011 as A Long Time Ago
 — —
1998 Tutone.rtf
  • Release date: July 28, 1998
  • Label: Secret Disc Records
 — —
2019 Beautiful Ending
  • Release date: May 9, 2019
  • Label: One Music Group
 — —
"—" 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]
  1. ^ "The Cowsills: Discography - John Cowsill Related". www.cowsill.com. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Wells, Shannon (2013-11-15). "Tommy Tutone leader finds there's life well after 'Jenny'". Portland Tribune - Pamplin Media Group. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  4. ^ Baynes, Luke (2012-05-31). "Life after 'Jenny'". Williston Observer. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  5. ^ "allmusic ((( Tommy Tutone > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  6. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Albums/CDs". RPM. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  7. ^ a b "allmusic ((( Tommy Tutone > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Allmusic. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  8. ^ "Results - RPM - Library and Archives Canada - Top Singles". RPM. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  11. ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - October 15, 2010: Tommy Tutone certified singles". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  12. ^ "Which Man Are You" did not enter the Billboard Hot 100, but peaked at number 1 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Tommy_Tutone&oldid=1265465780"