The song, "Hang On Sloopy", words and music by Bert Berns and Wes Farrell, was adopted
as the official state rock song of Ohio by House Concurrent Resolution No. 16 in 1985. Though the
song is attributed to a Bert "Russell" in the resolution, the real composer was Bert Berns. Russell was
a pseudonym, or pen name, that Berns wrote under sometimes.
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 16
WHEREAS, The members of the 116th General Assembly of Ohio wish to recognize the rock song "Hang On Sloopy"
as the official rock song of the great State of Ohio; and
WHEREAS, In 1965, an Ohio-based rock group known as the McCoys reached the top of the national record
charts with "Hang On Sloopy," composed by Bert Russell and Wes Farrell, and that same year, John Tagenhorst,
then an arranger for the Ohio State University Marching Band, created the band's now-famous arrangement of
"Sloopy," first performed at the Ohio State-Illinois football game on October 9, 1965; and
WHEREAS, Rock music has become an integral part of American culture, having attained a degree of acceptance
no one would have thought possible twenty years ago; and
WHEREAS, Adoption of "Hang On Sloopy" as the official rock song of Ohio is in no way intended to supplant
"Beautiful Ohio" as the official state song, but would serve as a companion piece to that old chestnut; and
WHEREAS, If fans of jazz, country-and-western, classical, Hawaiian and polka music think those styles also
should be recognized by the state, then by golly, they can push their own resolution just like we're doing; and
WHEREAS, "Hang On Sloopy" is of particular relevance to members of the Baby Boom Generation, who were once
dismissed as a bunch of long-haired, crazy kids, but who now are old enough and vote in sufficient numbers to
be taken quite seriously; and
WHEREAS, Adoption of this resolution will not take too long, cost the state anything, or affect the quality
of life in this state to any appreciable degree, and if we in the legislature just go ahead and pass the darn
thing, we can get on with more important stuff; and
WHEREAS, Sloopy lives in a very bad part of town, and everybody, yeah, tries to put my Sloopy down; and
WHEREAS, Sloopy, I don't care what your daddy do, 'cause you know, Sloopy girl, I'm in love with you;
therefore be it
Resolved, That we, the members of the 116th General Assembly of Ohio, in adopting this Resolution, name
"Hang On Sloopy" as the official rock song of the State of Ohio; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislative Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit duly authenticated copies of
this Resolution to the news media of Ohio.
