Originally named The Roundabout (a “supergroup” where the band members would get on and off, like a musical roundabout), was the start of the group who would later rename to Deep Purple, from Ritchie Blackmore suggesting a new name: “Deep Purple”, named after his grandmother’s favourite song written by pianist Peter DeRose in 1933 as a piano composition. The Deep Purple version was included on their first album and recorded with the band’s original lineup (Ian Paice, Jon Lord, Ritchie Blackmore, Nick Simper, Rod Evans) which didn’t include lead singer Ian Gillan, who joined in 1969, replacing Rod Evans. Session musician Barry Bailey (who later became the lead guitarist for the Atlanta Rhythm Section) plays guitar on the track. Shortly after the successful release of this song, Deep Purple was booked to support Cream on their Goodbye tour.

It was a cohort of producer Joe Meek, Rod Freeman, who taught Deep Purple this song. Keyboardist Jon Lord recalled to Mojo magazine January 2009:

Initially we thought it’s a bit too disco, or whatever the word was then. But Ritchie (Blackmore) said it would work if we toughened it up a bit. The whacka thing on the organ was something I started doing in (his previous band) The Artwoods. I played it almost like a set of conga drums. The rhythm of Hush is like a samba.

When Steve Morse joined Deep Purple on guitar in 1994, he pushed to bring the song back to their live shows, which they did.

We have a big improv section in there and it’s just a great feel from beginning to end for me, And the lyrics are not even lyrics. It’s just ‘Na nana na na na nananana.’ It’s the most basic tune in the world, but to me Deep Purple got on the map as a hard rock band from doing that version of ‘Hush.’ So I love that. And we stretch that out pretty far live.

The chorus begins “Hush, hush, I thought I heard her calling my name”, Joe South adapted the song from an old African American spiritual, which included the line: “Hush I thought I heard Jesus calling my name.”

“Hush” was written by American composer and musician Joe South for recording artist Billy Joe Royal, a friend of Joe South. Joe was a prominent session musician and songwriter.

In December 2015,  Deep Purple were announced as 2016 inductees into the Hall of Fame, with the Hall stating: “Deep Purple’s non-inclusion in the Hall is a gaping hole which must now be filled”, adding that along with fellow inductees Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, the band make up “the Holy Trinity of hard rock and metal bands.” The band was officially inducted on 8 April 2016.

The song is a fan favorite, but Gillan kept it off live setlists when he was in the band, since he wasn’t the original singer.

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