Nino Tempo (born Antonino LoTempio on January 6, 1935 in Niagara Falls, New York) is an American musician, singer, and actor. A musical prodigy, Nino Tempo learned to play the clarinet and the tenor saxophone as a child. He was a talent show winner at four years of age and appeared on television with Benny Goodman at seven. When his family moved to California, he appeared on the Horace Heidt radio show, performing a Benny Goodman clarinet solo. A child actor, he worked in motion pictures in such films as 1949's The Red Pony and in 1953's The Glenn Miller Story starring Jimmy Stewart. He was also a sought after session musician working with Elkie Brooks and a member of The Wrecking Crew for Phil Spector. Through a Bobby Darin recording session, he made connections with Atlantic Records and signed with its Atco Records subsidiary. However, Nino Tempo is best known for his 1963 duet "Deep Purple" on Atco with his sister Carol (singing under the stage name April Stevens) that went to No.1 on the Billboard charts. The song won the 1964 Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Recording. In 1975, he played saxophone on John Lennon's Rock 'n' Roll album.
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Trivia
- Nino Tempo and April's song "Deep Purple" was No.1 on the Billboard Top 100 the week John F. Kennedy was assassinated
- Nino had a bit part as Lt. Washington in Garfield's Babes and Bullets as well as other Garfield specials.
