Herb Jeffries, The Screen's Bronze Buckaroo, Sang With Duke Ellington, Still Active In His 90s, R.I.P.

Herb Jeffries, a jazz vocalist who starred in a series of Western motion pictures as a singing cowboy with an all-black cast and who was still performing in his 90s, passed away on Sunday at West Hills, California.

Mr. Jeffries, who passed away from heart failure, was believed to be 100 years of age.

A former vocalist with Earl "Fatha" Hines and his orchestra, Herb starred in a series of low-budgeted Westerns, including "Harlem on the Prairie (1937)," earning the nickname "The Bronze Buckaroo" before joining Duke Ellington by 1940.  With Mr. Ellington's orchestra, Herb recorded "Flamingo," which turned out to be a major hit.  It was on the record that he was mis-identified as "Herb Jeffries" and therefore he changed his name from Herbert Jeffrey to match the typo on the record label.

In the first decade of this century, Herb was performing at Cafe Aroma in Idyllwild, California.

Here Comes The Duke

Here is a 1942 Soundie with Duke Ellington and His Orchestra playing "Flamingo," featuring Herb Jeffries on the vocal, with dancing by Janet Collins (who looked smokin' hot) and Talley Beatty.






Mr. Jeffries, who is still with us today, will be 97 years old next Wednesday. He was also a singing cowboy, having sang and starred in a number of grade-B Westerns. He may well be the last of that breed, having outlasted the Gene Autrys, Roy Rogerses, Rex Allens, and Tex Ritters. In this short, he does a great job singing.