Mark Dinning
Mark Edward Dinning, known professionally as Mark Dinning, was born on August
17, 1933, near Drury, Grant County, Oklahoma. He grew up in a musically inclined
family and initially focused on country music after learning to play electric
guitar. His breakthrough came with the song "Teen Angel," written by his sister
Jean and her husband Red Surrey, which was released in December 1959. Despite
initial radio boycotts due to its morbid content, the single reached Number 1 on
the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1960, selling over 3.5 million copies and
earning a gold record certificatio...
