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 1-25 of 38 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BS-044887	10-in.	3/6/1940	You, you darlin'	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-053427	10-in.	9/5/1940	There shall be no night	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-053432	10-in.	9/6/1940	Blues for you, Johnny	Sidney Bechet ; Herb Jeffries ; New Orleans Feetwarmers	Jazz/dance quintet with male vocal solo (take 2: no vocal)	vocalist
Victor	BS-053581	10-in.	10/28/1940	I never felt this way before	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-053781	10-in.	12/28/1940	Flamingo	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	BS-053782	10-in.	12/28/1940	The girl in my dreams tries to look like you	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	PBS-061339	10-in.	7/2/1941	The brown skin gal (In calico gown)	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	PBS-061340	10-in.	7/2/1941	Jump for joy	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; with female vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	PBS-061942	10-in.	12/2/1941	What good would it do?	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	PBS-061943	10-in.	12/2/1941	I dont know what kind of blues I got	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist
Victor	PBS-072437	10-in.	6/26/1942	My little brown book	Duke Ellington Famous Orchestra	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	vocalist
Decca	L 4027	10-in.	12/11/1945	All the world is new	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 4028	10-in.	12/11/1945	I woke up with a teardrop in my eye	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6001		1/17/1951	You know you belong to somebody else	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6002		1/17/1951	Passion	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6003		1/17/1951	A fool grows wise	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6024		1/30/1951	You know you belong to somebody	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6025		1/30/1951	Was it a dream	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6026		1/30/1951	I didn't know I loved you	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6027		1/30/1951	Love me	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6094		2/20/1951	I'm yours to command	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6206		4/5/1951	Time on my hands	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6207		5/4/1951	All alone	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6208		4/5/1951	I didn't know what time it was	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Decca	L 6209		4/5/1951	All by myself	Herb Jeffries		vocalist

(Results 1-25 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.