A short music film, we would call it a music video today, was shot in 1975. Rick Derringer updated “Hang on Sloopy,” a song that had been a #1 hit for his band The McCoys a decade before. Those of us in the category of former radio deejays will remember the Sloopy tune. The big hit was in 1965, but the film shoot from ’75 has turned into an online sensation. The covers of the same song, along with other versions performed by Rick Derringer over the years, have created confusion. For those persons who wish to investigate this further, the reggae version of “Hang On Sloopy“ came out on Rick Derringer’s 1975 album called Spring Fever and the Sloopy track was also released as a single at that time. The main attraction, more so than the cover of the earlier hit, was the mysterious and previously unidentified “Hang On Sloopy” dancing girl.
Various versions of the video appear on YouTube and social media. It has been viewed by more than 200 million people around the world and that number grows daily (Click HERE to watch it). “Sloopy Girl’s” true identity had remained a mystery until September 2021. The theories had been widespread, inaccurate and some of them bordering on delusional. They had been based on gossip, online rumors, mislabeled photos, all in all wrong information, urban legends and myths. That situation has changed.
The story of the “Hang On Sloopy” dancer must be told by Lisa Leonard Dalton. She was 19-years-old, living in LA (Woodland Hills) with her parents, when she appeared as “Sloopy Girl.” Lisa has provided photo evidence, a believable timeline, and more than a dozen witnesses
This documentary video below is based on research completed in the span of more than a year at QZVX. It is narrated by Gary “Shannon” Burleigh, one of the great Pacific NW Top-40 radio voices of the 1960’s and ’70s. Lisa’s story is told with a backdrop of the sights, sounds and pop culture of the musically diverse 1970s. At QZVX our only goal was to collect evidence, to verify facts, and to preserve this moment in Rock ‘n’ Roll history.
The video has been posted at YouTube, because of the site’s huge international audience. This project is completely nonprofit and noncommercial. However, YouTube monetizes all videos. Any ad revenue YouTube collects from this video will be retained by YouTube and, as applicable, split with copyright holders. None of the proceeds from views of this video are distributed to QZVX or any persons affiliated with this production.
Addendum 2022: Since this author became involved with the “Sloopy Girl” saga, various videos and posts that I have written or been involved with now total about 8 million views. Add in the rest of the “Sloopy Girl” universe (dozens of videos and articles online) and that number of “Sloopy” views reaches in excess of 80 million. QZVX is staying on top of this story.
Originally, the plan was to publish one long interview with Lisa Leonard Dalton. Then “Sloopy Girl” fans let it be known they wanted to see lots of Lisa on-camera. They asked that she appear in person instead of having to read about her. Lisa is in Tennessee and I am in Washington State, so it is not like we can just get together: We agreed to conduct interviews by Zoom. Caveat: I was a radio guy, not a TV type, but for this project I will be the interviewer. Research shows that online viewers prefer short videos to marathon sessions. Therefore, Lisa and I will be doing a series of different interviews, but they will all be quite short.
The first of those interviews is available below. Up-Close & Personal in Tennessee was shot in early January 2022, so as I write this addendum it is very recent.
When the reveal video Deconstructing a Myth was released in summer 2021 it went viral. The truth changed the narrative of the “Sloopy Girl” story, with almost all YouTube channels and significant websites, including Wikipedia, Songfacts and Answers.com now reporting that Lisa Leonard Dalton is the authentic “Sloopy Girl.” When entering Lisa Leonard Dalton’s name in a search engine these days, it’s readily apparent that she is now recognized as the authentic “Hang On Sloopy” dancer. If you’ve heard the old tired rumor that a lady named Liz was the dancer, then check out our meticulously documented article “Sloopy Wives-Fact and Fiction” (Read it HERE ). Furthermore, a number of curious people, who’ve been tracking this case of mistaken identity, have asked what Liz Brewer in the UK (who had nothing to do with the Sloopy dance) has been doing from the 1960s on. Some of those answers can be found in the British Newspaper Archives. QZVX has collected several stories, many of them with vintage photos of Liz Brewer (Click HERE to view those newspaper files). In an interesting coincidence, in 2010, a family photographer took a photo of Lisa’s “Sloopy Girl” smile at a family event. When I saw that photo, it reminded me of a picture of the “Sloopy Girl” dancer in an identical pose. Side by side, a person doesn’t need facial recognition software to realize this is the same woman, be it 35 years later.
Overwhelmingly, thousands of “Sloopy Girl” fans embraced the truth. Along with requesting interviews such as the one above, they asked Lisa to share more current photos and to record a cell phone video. That video preceded the first interview: On November 5, 2021, while attending a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert in Knoxville, two of Lisa’s friends took pictures and she recorded a video greeting. To watch Lisa Leonard Dalton’s pre-concert video, called November Night in Tennessee, click HERE.
Below are a couple more recent and candid photos of “Sloopy Girl” Lisa Leonard Dalton. And since this article was written, Lisa Leonard Dalton has added a number of videos to her YouTube channel. See her videos by clicking HERE. And check out Lisa’s “Sloopy Girl” website at https://lisasloopygirl.com/
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View Comments
She was and is still a great dancer. I noticed she still dances bare footed as in the video from 1975. I have watched that vdeo numerous times and never get tired of it for now. I understand she now lives in Tn. and I live in Ky. and i like to spend time in the Smokies and in east Tn. area. I like going down and meeting the locals and sharing stories and trout fishing down there and i will now be looking out for her for a personal look and maybe even a conversation. She still appears amazing. May God bless her, and Thanks!
She is beautiful. In 1975 she was a brick house with a great smile and she certainly could move that Lucious body. It looked like she was loving her job! I had a crush on her from 7th grade until present. GJBYLisa!!
70s girl Lisa.
Great body.
This controversy seems just like the Men Without Hats (Safety Dance)”who was the blonde girl?”question.
I don't know about that controversy. Sloopy Girl's identity was first revealed here and at YouTube in fall 2021. A month after it was released, the now late Rick Derringer confirmed that Lisa was the dancer. So the controversy pretty well faded away with the imposter going quiet. Universally, except in old videos at YT that nobody ever updates, Lisa is acknowledged to be the dancer.
Another fabulous story that should be on Wikipedia, possibly mentioned on this posting at https://shorturl.at/LX5Wf
Steven has a very impressive series of Sloopy Girl videos, interviews/chats with Lisa Leonard Dalton at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClRn3E43flevhReqr7WAApg
Steven's use of Zoom and integrating that with the graphics and deep research on the subject/history is worth watching. Very enjoyable and I will say again, verrrry impressive video presentations!
Thanks Lou...sort of like still being in radio long after I retired. Lisa is fun to work with, charming and fun as she comes across in the interviews.
When I look at Sloopy Girl 2, I feel that it's hard. She is very attractive, even today, but I prefer the original Sloopy Girl.
Mark...your comment is rather confusing. There is no such thing as Sloopy Girl 1 and Sloopy Girl 2 if you are speaking of the dancer. There was only one Sloopy Girl dance video and it was filmed in 1975 at the MGM Hollywood backlot #2 in Culver City. The one and only dancer was Lisa Leonard Dalton. It was filmed to promote Rick Derringer's solo re-release of the Hang on Sloopy song that he originally sang with his group the McCoy's ten years prior. Rick's wife Liz was never the dancer, nor was the other Liz in the UK. So without clarification I do not get your comment. There is only one Sloopy Girl dancer and her name is Lisa Leonard Dalton. On the other hand, if you mean you prefer young Lisa at 19 to Lisa today...well time marches on for those of us who are lucky and try to take care of ourselves.
Very good comment. I hold this music video as one of the best ever made. Most cause she was incredibly hot n sexy, great improv dancing plus I'm into 60s n 70s music n style. Although whole approach back then would fit very well into todays fashion as well
Jens...thanks. I still don't know what Mark meant unless he thought there had been two Sloopy dance videos. Different editors have cut it into different parts and often they backed it with the wrong song. But the only sloopy girl dance video footage traces back to Lisa Leonard Dalton at MGM Hollywood strutting her stuff for Derringer's 1975 video remake of the track. 200 million views and counting.
Lisa still the bomb today sloppy still my favorite video and I see thousands I was only 5 when she made video fell in love if I could only turn back time
Bradley...the Leonard girls are very pretty. If you have not seen it, this week Lisa put out a video revealing the identity of the Hollywood studio where the Sloopy dance with Rick was shot back in 1975. it is at her Sloopy Girl YouTube channel.
In light of the fact Lisa Leonard Dalton was only a couple months away from turning 20 years old, and she was in college and had a steady boyfriend, I think not. Braless chicks were common fare in the 70s as is evident in movies of the era.
I would love to meet Lisa just to dance with her!
Victor...she is still dancing for fun. Who knows? Maybe someday. I am sure if the opportunity arose she would dance with you. Lisa is a very nice lady. She is now realizing what a big impact her Sloopy dance had on her generation. If you have yet to do so check out her Sloopy Girl YouTube channel....several recent videos with modern day Lisa answering questions and being down to earth and charming.
This has been an ongoing adventure. The Deconstructing a Myth video, the two official copies on YouTube, have now gained over 1.1 million views. This has also been a hot topic at QZVX. A noteworthy event tonight, Rick Derringer replied at his Facebook page that the first name of the dancer in the Sloopy dance video was "Lisa." That is the first time he has given an answer to the much asked question. As we have always pointed out, Rick and Lisa met only briefly. But his positive affirmation negated any old arguments that the dancer was his ex-wife Liz Derringer or the high profile Brit socialite Liz Brewer. Lisa Leonard Dalton is the Sloopy dancer.