Cleve Duncan | Sang "Earth Angel," 78

Cleve Duncan, 78, whose soaring tenor voice as lead singer for the Penguins helped propel the 1954 doo-wop ballad "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" to rock 'n' roll immortality, died Nov. 7 in Los Angeles.

"Earth Angel," which has sold more than 10 million copies, was the Penguins' only hit. But its rhythmic, wailing plea to an idealized young woman captured the spirit of the just-emerging rock generation. Rolling Stone magazine placed it on its list of the 500 greatest songs ever, and films like Back to the Future have used it to conjure an era.

Cleveland Duncan was born July 23 of either 1934 or 1935 in Los Angeles, and learned to sing in his church choir and glee clubs. In 1953, he was singing in a talent show attended by Curtis Williams, an aspiring songwriter and baritone singer, who thought Duncan would best give voice to "Earth Angel." Mr. Duncan and Williams formed a group and took their name from a pack of Kool cigarettes.
- N.Y. Times News Service