Hang on Sloopy! Ohio is home to lots of great music - from the birth of Rock 'n' Roll to the world famous Cleveland Orchestra, we've got a tune for you!
Class Discussion Questions:
1) Ohio is a cultural melting pot. How does this influence music in Ohio?
2) Choose a new rock song to represent Ohio and explain why you chose that song.
Read the Script:
Oh! Sorry, I was just rockin' out to some sweet Ohio jams - and there's so much great music to choose from because Ohio is such a cultural melting pot, it claims musicians from nearly every genre. Rock, folk, hip hop, country, jazz, and so many more.
In fact, Ohio is home to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, the world's most comprehensive archive of materials related to the music industry. In addition to being a public museum, legendary musicians are inducted into the Rock Hall 鈥� like, for instance, soul singer Bobby Womack, or influential doo-wop group the Isely Brothers 鈥� both of whom happen to be from Ohio, by the way.
The Rock Hall is largely in Ohio because of one man: Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed, who is known for popularizing the term 鈥渞ock 'n' roll鈥� in the 1950鈥檚.
And he did it right here in the building I happen to be standing in. That鈥檚 right, 1375 Euclid Avenue used to be home to WJW, the rockin'-est radio station in town.
Since Ohio is the home of rock 'n' roll, it鈥檚 only fitting that we should have an official state rock song. In fact, Ohio was the first state to designate an official rock song. Take a listen!
鈾� Hang on Sloopy 鈾� 鈾� Sloopy hang on 鈾�
It鈥檚 called 鈥淗ang on Sloopy鈥� by the McCoy鈥檚, a rock band with roots in Ohio. When it was first released in 1965, the Ohio State University marching band covered the song, and it鈥檚 been a favorite ever since. In fact, Sloopy has sort of become Ohio State鈥檚 unofficial fight song. At games, fans even interject an O-H-I-O into the music break. By 1985, the song became so ingrained in Ohio culture, that the members of the Ohio General Assembly approved it as Ohio鈥檚 officially-sanctioned state rock song.
But this song is not to be confused with Ohio鈥檚 official state song, Beautiful Ohio, which was originally written in 1918 by lyricist Ballard McDonald. McDonald鈥檚 original song describes a romance that takes place in Ohio, but in 1989, the lyrics were altered and the romance was written out. Instead, the altered song describes the diversity of Ohio鈥檚 landscapes, with 鈥渃ities rising high鈥� and farms of 鈥済olden grain.鈥�
And Ohio is also a powerhouse for more traditional music, as it is home to four major symphony orchestras, including the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra.
The Buckeye State鈥檚 musical strength is drawn from its amazing diversity. It鈥檚 a place where different genres collide and new ideas are formed - and because of this, the music rocks!
Instructional Links
Website: Buckeye Beat, Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues, Soul and Country music from Ohio 1950-1979
Website: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame