Quick Facts
LeoBiography
Max Edward Dinning (August 17, 1933 — March 22, 1986), known by his stage name Mark Dinning 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.
Biography
Max Edward 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.
Death
Dinning continued performing until his death from a heart attack in Jefferson City, Missouri, at the age of 52.
Discography
Albums
- Teen Angel (MGM 3828, 1960)
- Wanderin′ (MGM 3855, 1960)
Singles
| Year | Title | US Hot 100 | US R&B | UK | AUS | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | "Shameful Ways"/"A Million Years Ago" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 12447 |
| 1957 | "When You're Tired of Breaking Other Hearts"/"School Fool" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 12553 |
| 1958 | "Do You Know (There's a Someone Who Loves You)"/"You Thrill Me (Through and Through)" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 12691 |
| 1958 | "The Blackeyed Gypsy"/"Secretly in Love with You" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 12732 |
| 1959 | "Cutie Cutie"/"A Life of Love" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 12775 |
| 1959 | "Teen Angel"/"Bye Now Baby" | 1 | 5 | 37 | 3 | MGM 12845 |
| 1960 | "A Star Is Born (A Love Has Died)"/"You Win Again" | 68 | -- | -- | 32 | MGM 12888 |
| 1960 | "The Lovin' Touch"/"Come Back to Me (My Love)" | 84 | -- | -- | -- | MGM 12929 |
| 1960 | "She Cried on My Shoulder"/"The World Is Getting Smaller" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 12958 |
| 1961 | "Top Forty, News, Weather and Sports"/"Suddenly (There's Only You)" | 81 | -- | -- | 17 | MGM 12980 |
| 1961 | "Another Lonely Girl"/"Can't Forget" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 13007 |
| 1961 | "Lonely Island"/"Turn Me On" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 13024 |
| 1961 | "In a Matter of Moments"/"What Will My Mary Say?" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 13048 |
| 1962 | "All of This for Sally"/"The Pickup" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 13061 |
| 1962 | "I Catch Myself Cryin'"/"She's Changed" | -- | -- | -- | -- | MGM 13091 |
| 1964 | "Joey"/"January" | -- | -- | -- | -- | Cameo 299 |
| 1965 | "Dial AL 1-4883"/"I'm Glad We Fell in Love" | -- | -- | -- | -- | Hickory 1293 |
| 1966 | "There Stands a Lady"/"The Last Rose" | -- | -- | -- | -- | Hickory 1368 |
| 1966 | "He Reminds Me of Me"/"Run Opie Run" | -- | -- | -- | -- | Hickory 1404 |
| 1967 | "It's Such a Pretty World Today"/"Atlanta Georgia Stray" | -- | -- | -- | -- | United Artists 50169 |
| 1968 | "Throw a Little Love My Way"/"A Dissatisfied Man" | -- | -- | -- | -- | United Artists 50305 |