Cleve Duncan (1935-2012)

Cleve Duncan, lead singer of The Penguins, died on November seventh. In 1955 The Penguins haunting version of Earth Angel reached number one on Billboard's R&B chart and stayed there for three weeks. It also reached number eight on the Pop chart. The Penguins version of Earth Angel has sold ten million copies since its released back in 1955. Cleve Duncan's voice has got to be the main reason for this.

(Oh, oh, oh, oh,
Wah-ah-ah,
Oh, oh, oh, oh)

Earth angel, earth angel
Will you be mine?
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you

Earth angel, earth angel
The one I adore
Love you forever and ever more
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you

I fell for you, and I knew
The vision of your love-loveliness
I hoped and I prayed, that someday
I'll be the vision of your hap-happiness

Oh, oh, oh, OH!
Earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you-ou-ou

(I fell for you, and I knew
The vision of your loveliness
I hoped and I prayed, that someday
That I'll be the vision of your happiness)

Oh, oh, oh, OH!
Earth angel, earth angel
Please be mine
My darling dear
Love you all the time
I'm just a fool
A fool in love with you-ou-ou

(You)

(You)

(You)

Cleve Duncan's New York Times obituary is here.