The Ohio House has unanimously approved a measure making "Hang On Sloopy" the state's official rock song. The legislature recognized "Sloopy" as the state's official rock song in 1985, though the honor apparently wasn't permanent. The measure now goes to the Ohio Senate. Ohio Public Radio's Karen Kasler reports.
Just after the Ohio State University Marching Band deliberately stomped into and out of the House chamber, representatives passed legislation making “Hang On Sloopy” the state’s official rock song. Democrat Michael Stinziano of Columbus co-sponsored the bill – which he says came about when he heard it was the state official song only by resolution, not by law. To be sure, he consulted the man who came up with the resolution when he held that seat – his father Mike Stinziano.
“And so we did a little research, and asked Dad to think back as to what happened, and he was kind of dumbfounded. And so we’re trying to right this wrong.”
Hang On Sloopy was designated the state official rock song by concurrent resolution after Columbus newspaper columnist Joe Dirck suggested it in 1985 – twenty years after it was recorded by the Dayton-based band the McCoys.