Rest stops playing the biggest hits from Ohio playlist

John Legend attends the 2019 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)

John Legend attends the 2019 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell on November 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for Baby2Baby)
Local News
By Laura A. Bischoff
Dec 23, 2019
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Next time you roll into an Ohio highway rest stop, listen to the background music: it’s so Ohio.

Maybe you’ll hear Steubenville native Dean Martin crooning ‘That’s Amore’ or Springfield native John Legend singing his 2008 song “Green Light.”

Or you might catch the edgy guitar licks of The Black Keys, founded in Akron.

The Ohio Players. Photo: Dayton Daily News ArchiveThe celebrated Dayton funk band won the 1976 Grammy in the Best Album Package Category for Honey (Jim Ladwig was the art director).

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You may even find yourself dancing to funky sound of ‘Love Rollercoaster’ by Dayton’s own Ohio Players.

The Ohio Department of Transportation rolled out an all Ohio music play-list to three of its 41 interstate rest stops — one in Preble County and two in Warren County. Plans call for wider deployment of the play-list as ODOT spruces up rest stops.

So, who at ODOT pulled together the 40-song list? ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks, a Dayton native and songwriter. He co-wrote two songs for the funk band Klymaxx.

Marchbanks co-hosts one of the most listened to on-line jazz programs in public radio and he has produced music history specials. And last year he earned a doctorate in history from Ohio University. His dissertation was on jazz artists and writers during the Civil Rights Movement.

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Laura Bischoff is our Columbus bureau reporter and covers politics and state government. She keeps a close eye on elected leaders, public employees and taxpayer money. Bischoff tries to write stories that inform voters, hold leaders accountable and strengthen democracy.