On This Day in Rock History – April 20

In 1957, Elvis Presley started an eight week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with ‘All Shook Up.’ It went on to be the biggest single of 1957 selling over 2 million copies.

In 1968, Deep Purple made their live debut at a gig in Tastrup, Denmark. Formerly known as Roundabout, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore suggested a new name: Deep Purple, named after his grandmother’s favorite song (which had been a hit for Peter De Rose), after his grandmother hadrepeatedly asked if they would be performing the song.

In 1968, Apple Music ran advertisements soliciting tapes from unknown artists, offering financial grants as part of a deal to release records on the Apple label. Artists such as Badfinger, James Taylor, Mary Hopkin, Jackie Lomax, David Peel and Elephant’s Memory were signed up.

In 1991, Steve Marriott leader of Small Faces and Humble Pie, died in a fire at his home in Essex. His work became a major influence for many 90s bands. Small Faces had the 1967 UK No.3 & US No.16 single ‘Itchycoo Park’, plus 1968 No.1 UK album ‘Ogden’s Nut Gone Flake’, Humble Pie, 1969 UK No.4 single ‘Natural Born Bugie’. As a child actor he played parts in Dixon of Dock Green and The Artful Dodger in Oliver.