Mark Dinning

Although Dinning never duplicated the success of "Teen Angel," he had three minor hit records in the ensuing few years and continued to perform in the music industry until his unexpected passing at the age of fifty-two from a heart attack in Jefferson City, Missouri. The constant comparisons with U2 didn't help either, even though musically the bands were not especially similar. The band was dropped in 1996 and subsequently disbanded, though Bap went on to have some success with a solo career. The sad lyrics told of the death of a teenage love that radio stations in the United Kingdom deemed too morbid to be aired but went to No.1 on the Billboard Charts in the United States. Unfortunately the record company gave the band very lacklustre support and despite extensive touring, the breakthrough to mainstream success eluded them. His recording efforts met with limited success until 1960 when he recorded a 45rpm single called "Teen Angel" that was written by his sister Jean & her husband Red Surrey. Subsequent albums compensated for this, the 1992 release Stop the Machine, 1993's Shinola, Painkiller (1995) and a 1996 live album. Dinning pursued a career in country music and in 1957, Wesley Rose got him a record contract. The first album, Energy Orchard, was released to critical appreciation, but with some reservations about it being overproduced (producer was Mick Glossop), somewhat diluting the band's raw live sound.

From a musical family, three of his sisters formed the Dinning Sisters singing group that had a "Top Ten" hit in the late 1940s. The first single, Belfast, was released in 1990 on MCA records, followed up with Sailortown. Dinning was born near Drury, Oklahoma but grew up on a farm outside of Nashville, Tennessee. The band were:. Mark Dinning ( August 17, 1933 - March 22, 1986 ) was an American singer. Fronted by Bap Kennedy, their style drew heavily on the influence of Van Morrison and other classic RnB, but incorporated traditional elements of Irish folk music to create a unique sound. Energy Orchard were a Irish guitar-based rock band of the late 1980s and early 1990s, from Belfast.

Kevin Breslin (keyboards). Joby Fox (bass). Spade McQuaid (rhythm guitar). David Toner (percussion).

Paul Toner (lead guitar). Bap Kennedy (lead vocal).