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"Deep Purple" [1] was the biggest hit written by pianist Peter DeRose, who broadcast, 1923 to 1939, with May Singhi as "The Sweethearts of the Air" on the NBC radio network. "Deep Purple" was published in 1933 as a piano composition. The following year, Paul Whiteman had it scored for his suave "big band" orchestra that was "making a lady out of jazz" in Whiteman's phrase. "Deep Purple" became so popular in sheet music sales that Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1938:

When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls

And the stars begin to twinkle in the sky—

In the mist of a memory you wander back to me

Breathing my name with a sigh...

Larry Clinton and His Orchestra recorded the one of the most popular versions of the song. Featuring vocalist Bea Wain, the Clinton version was a huge hit. Released in December 1938 on Victor Records, the Clinton recording was number one on the U.S. popular music charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1939. The next one popular version was made Artie Shaw with vocalist Helen Forrest. The song is a sentimental ballad. The tune was a favorite of Babe Ruth, and Peter DeRose performed the song at Ruth's birthday parties for about a decade. The song remained a traditional pop favourite, recast in 1957 as a doo wop classic by The Dominoes with vocals by Eugene Mumford. Screamin' Jay Hawkins (best remembered for his rendition of "I Put A Spell On You") also released his version of "Deep Purple" on his 1958 album, "At Home with Screamin' Jay."

The second most popular version, which hit number one on the U.S. pop charts in November 1963 and also won that year's Grammy for best rock & roll record, was recorded by Nino Tempo & April Stevens (who were brother and sister). This version of the song is notable for April Stevens' speaking the lyrics in a low and sweet voice during the second half of the song while her brother sings. According to the Billboard Book of Number One Hits by Fred Bronson, when the duo first recorded the song as a demo, Tempo forgot the words, and Stevens spoke the lyrics to the song to remind him. The record's producers thought Stevens' spoken interludes were "cute" and should be included on the finished product, but according to Stevens, her brother was not as easily convinced: "He didn't want anyone talking while he was singing!"

Interestingly, the Nino Tempo/April Stevens version was intended to be the flip side of a song called "I've Been Carrying A Torch For You So Long That I Burned A Great Big Hole In My Heart." However, radio stations preferred "Deep Purple," and according to Bronson, "I've Been Carrying A Torch..." holds the distinction of being the longest title of a flip side of a Billboard number one record. Despite being considered "rock and roll," the song did also reach number one on Billboard's Adult Contemporary singles chart in 1963.

Another brother-and-sister team, Donny and Marie Osmond, revived "Deep Purple" in March 1976 and took it into the Top 20, peaking at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Marie intoning the balmy lyrics during the break, as April Stevens had done in the Nino Tempo/April Stevens version. As an interesting aside, the song that succeeded the Tempo/Stevens version of "Deep Purple" at number one on the Billboard chart, "I'm Leaving It Up To You" by Dale & Grace, was also a hit over a decade later in a cover version by Donny & Marie (in 1974).

[edit] Trivia

• The British rock band Deep Purple got their name from Pete De Rose's hit after guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's grandmother repeatedly asked if they would be performing the song, her personal favourite.

• Nino Tempo and April Stevens' version of "Deep Purple" was No.1 on the Billboard Top 100 the week before John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

• The 45 rpm recording of the song by Tempo and Stevens is notorious for sounding unclear, perhaps due to improper processing or duplicating during manufacture.

Earl Bostic, the great saxaphone player had an instrumental hit with "Deep Purple" circa 1951 along with his biggest hit "Flamingo" refer to Lp of 1963 The Best Of "Earl Bostic".. Musicle rendezvous CONTOUR records ref 2870-115 also recorded by King Records USA

[edit] In popular culture

• A recording by Vic Damone featured in the film "Donnie Brasco" (1997).