Herb Jeffries

Herb Jeffries

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.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 24, 1913 (Detroit), Died May 25, 2014 (West Hills)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-38 of 38 records)

Company	Matrix No.	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
Decca	L 6215	4/7/1951	A beggar in love	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6216	4/7/1951	I'll never know	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6217	4/7/1951	Love comes along	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6245	4/21/1951	old soldiers never die	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6246	4/21/1951	Unless	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6264	5/8/1951	Dark is the night	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6265	5/8/1951	Wonder why	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6286	5/22/1951	Among my souvenirs	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6287	5/22/1951	Just a memory	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6288	5/22/1951	Once in a while	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6289	5/22/1951	As time goes by	Herb Jeffries	vocalist
Decca	L 6637	2/13/1952	Flamingo	Les Brown and his Band of Renown	vocalist
Decca	L 6638	2/13/1952	Basin Street blues	Les Brown and his Band of Renown	vocalist

(Results 26-38 of 38 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jeffries, Herb," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/102193.

Jeffries, Herb. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/102193.

"Jeffries, Herb." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.