Mark Dinning’s Ode to the Timeless “Teen Angel”

“Teen Angel” is a tragic pop song recorded by American singer Mark Dinning in 1959. The song, written by Jean Dinning and her husband Red Surrey, tells the story of a young couple involved in a fatal car accident. The narrator, the boyfriend, recounts the tragic event where his girlfriend, the “teen angel,” dies while trying to retrieve his high school class ring, which he had given to her moments before the accident.

“Teen Angel” became a massive hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States in 1960.

The song’s melodramatic storyline, combined with Dinning’s heartfelt delivery, resonated with listeners, making it a memorable and enduring example of early 1960s pop music.

The song’s melancholic theme and emotional lyrics struck a chord with young audiences, reflecting the fascination with teenage tragedy songs that was prevalent during that era. “Teen Angel” remains a classic example of the genre, capturing the sentimental and sometimes morbid themes that characterized this particular style of pop music in the late 1950s and early 1960s.