Stephen C. Propes

Steve Propes was born in Berkeley, CA and moved to Long Beach, CA as a teen. While in high school, he began collecting vintage 45 rpm records. At the same time, he attempted to find any published work on record collecting. Finding none, he wrote Those Oldies But Goodies: A Guide to 1950s Record Collecting, recognized as the pioneer work on that subject, in 1973. Two more books in this series were published in the mid-1970s.

Propes self-published Those Old School Records: The First 50 Years in Over 1,000 Selected Records in 2018, edited and reprinted by Genius Book Publishing in October 2022. Propes was also co-author with Jim Dawson of What Was the First Rock and Roll Record for Faber and Faber in 1992, with a second edition updated and released on Genius Book Publishing in October 2022. He wrote 45 RPM: The History, Heroes & Villains of a Pop Music Revolution” for Backbeat in 2003. He also co-wrote L.A. R&B Vocal Groups, 1945-1965 with Galen Gart in 2001 and Merry Christmas, Baby: Holiday Music from Bing To Sting with Dave Marsh in 1993.

In 1981, he became a DJ at KLON-FM88 in Long Beach/Los Angeles, interviewing literally hundreds of musicians like Curtis Mayfield, Joe Turner, Bo Diddley, and Ike Turner; and music insiders and fans like George Carlin. He also had a cable TV show, Steve Propes’ Rock and Roll House Party, in Long Beach and was DJ at WPMD at Cerritos College during the 2000s. He’s also wrote rare record descriptions at Good Rockin’ Tonight in the 1990s and has been a freelance reporter and columnist for the community newspaper the Beachcomber in Long Beach since 2000.

Married in 1965, Steve and Sylvia have two grown daughters and are grandparents of two offspring who live in Denmark.

What Was the First Rock N Roll Record? (Paperback)

$15.95

“The blues had a baby and they called it rock ‘n’ roll,” said the great Muddy Waters.

But what was the firstborn? What was the first rock ‘n’ roll record?

Using this question as their starting point, writer Jim Dawson and DJ Steve Propes nominate 50 recordings for that honor. Beginning with a 1944 Jazz at the Philharmonic recording, “Blues,” and ending with Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” What Was the First Rock ‘n’ Roll Record? Profiles some of the most important and influential recordings in rock’s history.

For each nominee, Dawson and Propes provide chart positions, labels, recording information, and an explanation as to why it might qualify as the first. Lesser known milestones like “Open the Door, Richard” and “Rocket 88” appear here alongside acknowledged classics like “Shake, Rattle, and Roll” and “Rock Around the Clock,” and many forgotten artists are restored to their rightful place in rock’s pantheon. The result is a provocative and entertaining guide to the earliest days of rock ‘n’ roll.

This 30^th anniversary updated and revised edition brings to light new and surprising details about the songs, albums, and artists that are vying for the honor of being the first rock ‘n’ roll record.

Those Old School Records (Paperback)

$17.95

Ever wonder about who the backing musicians were on Jackie Brenston’s 1951 classic, “Rocket 88”? Or how Joe Turner’s “Honey Hush” got its title? Or what legendary blues songwriter and bass player Willie Dixon had to say about Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley joining Chess Records’ lineup? And what about the story behind how “My Boyfriend’s Back” was written? Maybe you didn’t know the origins of Marlow Stewart and His 4 Guitars “Riptide”.

Those Old School Records takes you through the history of rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, soul and more from 1946 to 1987 through the lens of top-charting 45 RPM singles. With over 1,000 songs, labels, release dates, suggested pairings, remakes, answers, and other detailed information, Those Old School Records leaves no musical stone unturned.

At over 400 pages, Those Old School Records will answer many of your questions about the origins and history of these chart-topping songs.

Find anything you need

What Was the First Rock N Roll Record? (Paperback)

Those Old School Records (Paperback)