It was sung by Mark Dinning and written by his sister Eugenia, and her
husband Red Surrey. Dinning didn’t have much success in his sing career until "Teen
Angel" became a hit. The lyrics, which told of the death of a teenage
girl, were deemed to morbid by British radio stations who refused to air it.
Still, it sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Dinning was
an alcoholic and as a result his career sank because he failed to show for
concerts or showed up drunk, costing promoters money. Dinning continued performing until his death
from a heart attack in Jefferson City, Missouri, aged 52.
