Herb Jeffries

Herb Jeffries
Jeffries in 1944
Background information
Also known as
  • Herbert Jeffrey
  • the Bronze Buckaroo
  • The Sepia Singing Cowboy
Born
Umberto Alexander Valentino (alt. Umberto Alejandro Balentino) or Ballentino

(1913-09-24)September 24, 1913
Detroit, Michigan, US
DiedMay 25, 2014(2014-05-25) (aged 100)
West Hills, Los Angeles, California, US
GenresJazz, popular
OccupationsSinger, actor
Years active1933–1995
LabelWarner Bros.

Herb Jeffries (born Umberto Alexander Valentino; September 24, 1913 – May 25, 2014) was an American actor of film and television and popular music and jazz singer-songwriter, known for his baritone voice.

He starred in several low-budget "race" Western feature films aimed at black audiences, Harlem on the Prairie (1937), Two-Gun Man from Harlem (1938), Rhythm Rodeo (1938), The Bronze Buckaroo (1939) and Harlem Rides the Range (1939). He also acted in several other films and television shows. During his acting career he was usually billed as Herbert Jeffrey (sometimes "Herbert Jeffries" or "Herbert Jeffries, Sensational Singing Cowboy").

In the 1940s and 1950s Jeffries recorded for a number of labels, including RCA Victor, Exclusive, Coral, Decca, Bethlehem, Columbia, Mercury and Trend. His album Jamaica, recorded by RKO, is a concept album of self-composed calypso songs.

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