The Dinning Sisters

Steve is descended from a family that has made a significant mark on the music industry. In the late 1940s and into the 1950s. The Dinning Sisters were a very popular trio vocal group which personified the swinging, close harmony sounds of the era. Sister Lou, born in 1922 in Kentucky, joined forces with her twin sisters Ginger (Steve’s mother), and Jean, both born in 1924 in Oklahoma. There were five daughters and four sons total in the musical family, and all sang in the church choir. While in their teens the three Dinning sisters had won several amateur singing contests, and were awarded a 15-minute local radio show. Later they toured as part of Herbie Holmes’ orchestra. In 1939 they received a five-year contract with NBC in Chicago, and were regular guests on such shows as Gary Moore’s "Club Matinee", the "Bowman Musical Milkwagon," and the "National Barn Dance." They appeared at several clubs in the Chicago area , and even were featured in the Latin Quarter. They were the highest paid radio act
in Chicago at the time.

"Soundie" of "Clancy - The Dinning Sisters

"Soundie" of "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" - The Dinning Sisters

The young girls then moved west to Hollywood, where they were well received. They appeared with Ozzie Nelson’s Band  in the film “Strictly in the Groove.” They were in two Walt Disney films, “Fun and Fancy Free” and “Melody Time,” where they sang the tune “Blame it on the Samba.”
With famous organist Ethel Smith.

"Blame it on the Samba" - Ethel Smith with The Dinning Sisters

"Soundie" of "Pig Foot Pete" - The Dinning Sisters

They quickly signed with Capitol Records, and recorded several hits: “My Adobe Hacienda,” “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now,” “I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance,” “Beg Your Pardon,” “Where or When,” and the big selling smash hit “Buttons and Bows.” “Buttons and Bows” was featured in the Bob Hope film “Paleface” also starring Jane Russell and Roy Rogers. Sister Lou left the group in 1946 and made some solo recordings: “The Little White Cloud that Cried,” “Trust in Me,” and “Nobody Else But Me.” Lou was replaced first by Jayne Bundesen. Three years later, Jayne was replaced by another Dinning sister, Tootsie (Dolores). They retired in the mid-50s, but Tootsie continued to sing with Nashville Edition on the TV show “Hee Haw.”

"Lonesome Road" - Dolores "Tootsie" Dinning

However another member of the Dinning family was poised to take center stage…

Brother Mark Dinning was born in 1933, the youngest of the Dinning family, in Oklahoma. He grew up on a farm near Nashville, TN. He started singing country music, and was signed by music legend Wesley Rose in 1957 to a recording contract. He possessed a voice with a vocal range similar to the great Roy Orbison. His recordings met with limited success until 1960. His sister Jean, of the Dinning Sisters, and her husband Red Surrey wrote a ballad about a young teenage girl’s early death in a car crash. “Teen Angel” soared to number one on the Billboard Charts. Mark became a major teen idol after the release of this tune. He followed up with three more minor hits. He performed up until his early death from
a heart attack in 1986.

"Teen Angel" - Mark Dinning, introduced by Dick Clark

The family continues its involvement in music with the Sister’s nephew Dean playing bass with the popular group Toad the Wet Sprocket. And now SteveLutke is building a name and reputation for his banjo artistry. Steve’s brother Kevin Lutke is a well-respected jazz guitarist, and teaches music at college level in New Jersey. Kevin also performs with Steve in the group Appalachian uprising.