Deep Purple by Nino Tempo & April Stevens

Summary

“Deep Purple” stands as one of the most enduring American popular songs of the 20th century, having topped the charts multiple times across three decades. The 1963 version by sibling duo Nino Tempo & April Stevens transformed a Depression-era standard into a sultry, Grammy-winning pop hit that captured the romantic imagination of early 1960s America. Their intimate, breathy interpretation—featuring April Stevens’ seductive spoken-word passages over Nino’s saxophone accompaniment—brought new life to Peter DeRose’s 1934 composition and became one of the most unexpected chart-toppers of the pre-British Invasion era. The recording’s success earned the duo the Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording, making it one of the defining pop achievements of 1963.

Core Facts

Timeline

• 1934 – Peter DeRose composes “Deep Purple” as a piano instrumental, dedicated to his wife, singer May Singhi Breen.
• 1938 – Mitchell Parish adds romantic lyrics to the composition.
• 1939 – Larry Clinton and His Orchestra, featuring vocalist Bea Wain, takes the song to #1 on the pop charts for nine weeks, making it the biggest hit of the year.
• 1957 – Billy Ward and his Dominoes record a doo-wop version reaching #20.
• September 1963 – Nino Tempo & April Stevens record their version at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles.
• October 1963 – The single enters the Billboard Hot 100.
• November 16, 1963 – “Deep Purple” reaches #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, holding the position for one week.
• 1964 – The recording wins the Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording.
• 1968 – British rock band Deep Purple forms, taking their name from this song.
• 1976 – Donny & Marie Osmond’s cover reaches #1 in the UK and #14 in the US.

Historical Context

When Nino Tempo & April Stevens recorded “Deep Purple” in 1963, the song was already a well-established standard with a rich 29-year history. The original 1939 Larry Clinton recording had been one of the most successful records of the swing era, selling over a million copies and becoming closely associated with the romantic sentiments of Americans on the eve of World War II.

The brother-sister duo of Nino Tempo (born Antonino LoTempio, January 6, 1935) and April Stevens (born Carol Lo Tempio, April 29, 1936) came from a musical family in Niagara Falls, New York. Nino was a child prodigy who appeared in the film “The Benny Goodman Story” (1956) and worked as a session musician, playing saxophone for Phil Spector’s legendary recordings. April had previously recorded as a solo artist, achieving success with “Teach Me Tiger” (1959), a suggestive novelty song that was banned on many radio stations.

Their decision to revive “Deep Purple” came at an interesting moment in pop music history—just months before the British Invasion would transform the American charts. The early 1960s still maintained strong connections to pre-rock pop traditions, and revivals of standards were common. However, Nino and April’s approach was distinctly modern: they slowed the tempo dramatically, added a sensual spoken-word section, and created an intimate atmosphere that set their version apart from the big-band original.

The recording session took place at Gold Star Studios in Los Angeles, the same facility where Phil Spector created his “Wall of Sound” productions. This wasn’t coincidental—Nino Tempo’s work with Spector influenced the recording’s rich, layered production quality.

Musical Significance & Innovation

Nino Tempo & April Stevens’ version of “Deep Purple” represented a significant reimagining of a swing-era standard for the early rock era. Several musical elements distinguished their recording:

Arrangement and Tempo: While Larry Clinton’s 1939 version featured an uptempo big-band arrangement, Tempo and Stevens dramatically slowed the pace, creating a languid, dreamy atmosphere. The tempo reduction from approximately 120 BPM to around 72 BPM transformed the song’s emotional character entirely.

Vocal Interplay: The recording features a unique call-and-response structure between April’s breathy lead vocals and Nino’s deeper harmonies. The spoken-word passages, where April recites the lyrics in a whispered, intimate tone, were particularly innovative and contributed significantly to the record’s appeal.

Instrumentation: Nino’s saxophone work provided melodic counterpoint throughout the recording, while the arrangement featured prominent strings, muted brass, and subtle percussion. This combination bridged traditional pop orchestration with contemporary early-1960s production techniques.

Production Quality: Recorded at Gold Star Studios with its famous echo chambers, the recording possessed a sonic depth that gave it presence on AM radio while maintaining intimacy. The studio’s distinctive reverb characteristics enhanced the romantic atmosphere.

The Grammy voters recognized these innovations by awarding “Deep Purple” the Best Rock and Roll Recording prize at the 1964 ceremony—a somewhat ironic categorization for what was essentially a jazz-influenced pop standard revival, reflecting the genre confusion of the transitional early 1960s.

Cultural Impact & Legacy

The cultural footprint of “Deep Purple” extends far beyond the chart success of any single version. The song has become one of the most recorded compositions in American popular music history, with estimates suggesting over 200 recorded versions across multiple genres.

Naming a Rock Legend: Perhaps the most significant cultural legacy of the song came in 1968 when guitarist Ritchie Blackmore suggested naming his new hard rock band “Deep Purple” after the song. Blackmore’s grandmother had loved the original 1930s recording, and the name resonated with the band members. This British rock group would become one of the most influential heavy metal and hard rock bands in history, inadvertently keeping the song’s title in public consciousness for decades.

Impact on Sibling Acts: The success of Nino Tempo & April Stevens helped pave the way for other sibling duo acts in popular music. Their intimate vocal blend and family chemistry influenced subsequent acts, including the Carpenters and Donny & Marie Osmond, who would record their own successful version of “Deep Purple” in 1976.

Standards Revival Movement: The duo’s success demonstrated that pre-rock standards could still achieve mainstream pop success when given fresh interpretations. This helped maintain the commercial viability of the Great American Songbook during the rock era.

Chart History: “Deep Purple” holds the distinction of being one of few songs to reach #1 on American charts in multiple decades (1939 and 1963), demonstrating its remarkable staying power as a popular standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote “Deep Purple”?

Deep Purple was composed by Peter DeRose in 1934 as a piano instrumental. DeRose wrote it as a tribute to his wife, singer May Singhi Breen. The romantic lyrics were added four years later in 1938 by Mitchell Parish, one of the most successful lyricists of the era, known for his work on “Stardust” and “Moonlight Serenade.”

Are Nino Tempo and April Stevens related?

Yes, Nino Tempo and April Stevens are brother and sister. Born to an Italian-American family in Niagara Falls, New York, their real names are Antonino LoTempio and Carol Lo Tempio. They began performing together in the early 1960s and continued their partnership for decades.

What year did Nino Tempo & April Stevens’ version of “Deep Purple” reach number one?

Their version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 16, 1963. It held the top position for one week before being displaced by “I’m Leaving It Up to You” by Dale & Grace—another romantic duo recording, reflecting the popularity of such acts at the time.

Did “Deep Purple” win any awards?

Yes, Nino Tempo & April Stevens won the Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording at the 6th Annual Grammy Awards held on May 12, 1964. Despite the song being a revival of a 1930s standard, the Grammy categorization reflected the era’s evolving understanding of rock music.

Is the rock band Deep Purple named after this song?

Yes, the legendary British rock band Deep Purple, formed in Hertford, England in 1968, took their name directly from this song. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore suggested the name because his grandmother had been particularly fond of the original 1930s version of the song.

How many times has “Deep Purple” reached number one on the charts?

The song has reached #1 on major charts three times: Larry Clinton’s 1939 version topped the US charts for nine weeks, Nino Tempo & April Stevens’ 1963 version reached #1 for one week on the Billboard Hot 100, and Donny & Marie Osmond’s 1976 version reached #1 in the United Kingdom.

What other hits did Nino Tempo & April Stevens have?

Following “Deep Purple,” the duo had several more chart entries including “Whispering” (#11 in 1964, another standards revival), “Stardust” (#32 in 1964), and “All Strung Out” (#26 in 1966). However, they never matched the success of “Deep Purple.”

Sources & Verification

• Billboard Chart Archives – Hot 100 chart positions and history for November 1963
• Grammy Awards Database – 6th Annual Grammy Awards, Best Rock and Roll Recording category (1964)
• Whitburn, Joel. “The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits” – Chart performance data and historical context
• AllMusic – Artist biography for Nino Tempo & April Stevens
• Songwriters Hall of Fame – Peter DeRose and Mitchell Parish biographical information
• Library of Congress – Copyright registration records for “Deep Purple” (1934, 1938)
• ASCAP Repertory – Songwriter and publisher credits
• Spector, Phil – Wall of Sound production documentation, Gold Star Studios history
• Thompson, Dave. “Smoke on the Water: The Deep Purple Story” – Information on band naming origins
• Bronson, Fred. “The Billboard Book of Number One Hits” – Chart history and recording background
• Contemporary press coverage: Billboard Magazine (1963-1964), Cashbox Magazine (1963)