Mark Dinning

Max Edward "Mark" Dinning (August 17, 1933 – March 22, 1986) was an American pop music singer. In February 1960, the song "Teen Angel", written by his sister Jean (Eugenia) and her husband Red Surrey, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Jean and two of her sisters, Virginia and Lucille, comprised The Dinning Sisters, a popular singing trio in the 1940s. Additionally, Dinning is the uncle of Dean Dinning, bass guitarist for alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket. Dinning was born in Manchester, Oklahoma, the youngest of nine children, and was raised on a farm near Nashville, Tennessee, after his family relocated from Kansas. He followed his sisters and pursued a career in country music and, in 1957, record producer Wesley Rose signed him to a recording contract as Mark Dinning. His recording efforts met with limited success until 1959, when "Teen Angel" became a hit. The lyrics, which told of the death of a teenage girl, were deemed by British radio stations to be too morbid to be aired, but it reached number 37 on the UK Singles Chart. In the U.S., it reached number one on the Billboard charts in early February 1960. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. He also was the original artist to record "What Will My Mary Say", a song later popularized by Johnny Mathis in 1963. Dinning had an alcohol addiction, which restricted his performances, and caused promoters to stop booking him as he faded from public view. Although Dinning never duplicated the success of "Teen Angel", he had three minor hit records in the ensuing years. Dinning continued performing until his death from a heart attack in Jefferson City, Missouri, at the age of 52 on March 22, 1986. Teen Angel (MGM 3828, 1960) Wanderin′ (MGM 3855, 1960) "Social Security Death Index, hosted at Ancestry.com". Ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2013-10-20. "Jean Dinning, who wrote 'Teen Angel,' dies at 86 - latimes.com". Latimesblogs.latimes.com. 2011-03-10. Retrieved 2013-10-20. "Vocal Harmony A Cappella Group: Dinning Sisters". Singers.com. Retrieved 2013-10-20. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 156. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 123. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. "Famous and Forgotten Part 2: Grant County's One-Hit Wonders". www.blackwelljournaltribune.net. Retrieved 2025-02-04. "Max Dinning, 51: Sang '59 Hit 'Teen Angel'". Chicago Tribune. March 23, 1986. Retrieved May 20, 2024. Rockabilly.nl biography Notice of Jean Dinning's death in the New York Times Producer website for BINGE LP 1012 Mark Dinning discography at Discogs