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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 37 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
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  
Decca L 6215 4/7/1951 A beggar in love Herb Jeffries vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 37 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jeffries, Herb," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102193.

Jeffries, Herb. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102193.

"Jeffries, Herb." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102193

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