COLUMBUS, Ohio – A Columbus lawmaker wants to make “Hang On, Sloopy” Ohio’s official rock song.
Thought it already was? Think again.
Michael Stinziano (D-Columbus ) has introduced a bill in the Statehouse that would officially designate the song as Ohio’s official rock son “in pertuity,” Stinziano said.
“‘Hang On, Sloopy’ is synonymous with the state of Ohio and with Ohio State University football. I’m pleased to be able to help right this wrong and to help our state proudly proclaim that ‘Hang On, Sloopy’ is once again the state of Ohio’s official rock song,” said Stinziano, who graduated from law school at OSU.
Stinziano is the son of for Rep. Mike Stinziano who, along with state Sen. Gene Watts, also of Columbus, sponsored House Concurrent Resolution 16 in 1985 that designated the McCoys 1965 hit and favorite of Ohio State football fans Ohio’s Official State Rock Song.
The resolution lacked the power of law, though, so Stinziano has introduced a measure that would make the designation permanent.
The General Assembly adopted an official rock song after “Columbus Citizen-Journal” columnist Joe Dirck wrote about the Washington state considering the adoption of its own rock song. Ohio lawmakers responded with the Stinziano/Watts resolution, making the Buckeye State the first to have an official rock song.
“Hang On, Sloopy” became a hit for the Dayton-based band The McCoys and was written about Dorothy Sloop of Steubenville, Ohio, a singer who sometimes used the stage name Sloopy.