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 Detroit (city in and county seat of Wayne County, and largest city in State of Michigan, United States), Died May 25, 2014 (West Hills (neighborhood in Los Angeles, California, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 68 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
Exclusive	CPM-17	10-in.	1946-1949	You are my darlin'	Herb Jeffries Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Excelsior	CPM-20	10-in.	1946-1949	Here's hoping	Herb Jeffries Orchestra		vocalist
Exclusive	CPM-20	10-in.	12/31/1949	Here's hoping	Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Excelsior	HJ-100	10-in.	1944-1951	At least you could save me a dream	Eddie Beal Trio		vocalist
Exclusive	EXC-1009	10-in.	12/31/1948	Got your love in my heart	Eddie Davis ; James Jackson ; Little Willie Jackson ; Herb Jeffries ; Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers		vocalist
Exclusive	EXC-1010	10-in.	12/31/1948	Left a good deal in Mobile	Herb Jeffries ; Joe Liggins ; Original Honeydrippers		vocalist, songwriter
Exclusive	EXC-1029	10-in.	12/31/1948	Body and soul	Buddy Baker ; Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Exclusive	EXC-1030	10-in.	12/31/1948	What's the score?	Buddy Baker ; Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Exclusive	EXC-1030	10-in.	12/31/1949	What's the score?	Buddy Baker Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Exclusive	EXC-1047	10-in.	12/31/1948	She's funny that way	Buddy Baker ; Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Exclusive	EXC-1051	10-in.	1945-1948	It's the gal from Cal for me	Buddy Baker ; Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Exclusive	EXC-1052	10-in.	12/31/1949	These foolish things	Hoyt Bohannon ; Buddy Baker Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries		vocalist
Exclusive	EXC-1075	10-in.	12/31/1949	Basin street blues	Buddy Baker Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries ; Les Robinson		vocalist
Exclusive	EXC-1115	10-in.	12/31/1949	When I write my song	Buddy Baker Orchestra ; Herb Jeffries ; Milton Raskin		vocalist

(Results 1-25 of 68 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jeffries, Herb," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102193.

Jeffries, Herb. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102193.

"Jeffries, Herb." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.