Steve Propes

Steve Propes has been a longtime supporter of the NAMM Oral History program and sat down with us to discuss his views on the development of R&B, doo wop and rock and roll. As a long time radio personality in Southern California and author, Steve has become a music historian with a focus on record collecting. His interesting career, which included teaching music appreciation at the local college, also gave him the opportunity to interview several of his musical heroes. For his radio program, Steve interviewed early music pioneers such as Big Joe Turner, Lowell Fulson and Richard Berry. Among his publications are the books Those Oldies But Goodies: A Guide to 50's Record Collecting (1973), What Was the First Rock 'n' Roll Record (1992), and OLD SCHOOL: 77 Years of Southern California R&B & Vocal Group Harmony Records 1934-2011 (2013).