One of the most ear-wormed phone numbers in pop history has a new purpose. The seven digits made famous by Tommy Tutone's 1981 hit "867-5309/Jenny" now connect callers not to a mysterious girl on a bathroom wall - but to a free, confidential cancer support helpline staffed by trained specialists.
The number now directs callers to the Cancer Support Community (CSC), a nonprofit that provides information, emotional support, and guidance to people affected by cancer. The effort is a collaboration between CSC, Gilda's Club locations, and health marketing agency Klick Health - and it has the full endorsement of the band.
The full number to dial is CSC-867-5309, or 272-867-5309. Calls are free and confidential.
Tommy Heath, the band's lead singer, said in a statement that when the song was recorded, none of them imagined those digits would still be lodged in people's heads decades later. "If that little piece of pop culture can now help someone remember Cancer Support Community's and Gilda's Club's Helpline and connect them to real people, real community, and real support, that's incredibly meaningful to us," Heath said.
The cause is personal for Heath, now 78. He has relatives who have battled cancer and is dealing with a minor case of skin cancer himself. He says he hopes people will think: "Hey, I'll call 867-5309. Somebody's waiting there to help me." He added he'd be happy if this became an enduring legacy that made people smile and gave them hope.
CSC CEO Sally Werner said anchoring the number into public consciousness was central to the campaign's strategy. "By anchoring CSC-867-5309 into the public consciousness, we're ensuring that when someone is impacted by cancer, Cancer Support Community and Gilda's Clubs are the first place they turn to," Werner said.
The number's cultural footprint has never been small. Since the song peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1982, unsuspecting people across the country with 867-5309 in their area code have fielded prank calls for decades. One Alabama resident changed her number in 1982 after calls flooded in at 2 and 3 a.m. An Ohio couple disconnected theirs entirely after Ohio Bell told them: "We don't know what to make of this. The calls are coming from all over the place."
Over the years, the number has been auctioned on eBay, leased for $25 million by a nutrition company for a radio campaign, and used as a trademark by a Rhode Island plumbing company. Now, for the first time, it has been put to work for public health.
Heath will be touring this summer, giving fans another chance to hear the song live. More information is available at csc8675309.com.
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