Tommy Tutone's 867-5309 Now Helps Cancer Patients

If you grew up in the '80s, you probably can't see the numbers 867-5309 without humming Tommy Tutone's infectious chorus. Now, that legendary phone number is saving lives instead of sparking prank calls.

Tommy Heath, the 78-year-old frontman of Tommy Tutone, teamed up with the Cancer Support Community to secure the famous number for their free support helpline. When you dial 867-5309 using the 272 area code (which spells "CSC" for Cancer Support Community), you reach trained specialists ready to help cancer patients navigate their journey.

The decision came from a deeply personal place for Heath. "I have some family members who are struggling with cancer," he told People magazine, adding that he's dealing with minor skin cancer himself. "I'm out on tour with a lot of bands and suddenly somebody's not there."

The song hit number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1982, cementing those seven digits into pop culture forever. For decades, people dialed the number asking for "Jenny," turning it into one of music's most famous accidental pranks. Now those same memorable numbers serve as a lifeline.

Heath saw an opportunity to transform his biggest hit into something meaningful. "I need to give back to the community, the people who have supported me all these years," he explained. The Cancer Support Community's hotline provides expert guidance, information, and a compassionate ear precisely when people need it most.

Why This Inspires

At an age when most musicians have long retired, Heath is still touring and belting out his signature song for enthusiastic crowds. But now he's doing it with renewed purpose, knowing the chorus that made him famous is also helping people through their darkest moments.

The transformation from prank call magnet to cancer support lifeline shows how something playful can become profound. Heath hopes this becomes his enduring legacy, one that makes people smile and gives them hope when they need it most.

He's still performing "867-5309/Jenny" live, and yes, he still loves singing it.