Herb Jeffries, Star of Black Cowboy Films, Dies at 100
A pioneer in African American-targeted Western movies and jazz singer Herb Jeffries, the “Bronze Buckaroo,” has died. He was 100.
Jeffries died of heart failure in West Hills, Calif. on Sunday, according to the LA Times. His health had been declining for some time.
The multi-talented Jeffries embraced his mixed heritage — he was of Irish, Ethiopian, Sicilian, French, Moorish and Italian descent — and appeared in his first film in 1937. The movie, “Harlem of the Prairie,” was targeted to black audiences, and jump-started the career for the blue-eyed actor.
In 1939, he appeared in “The Bronze Buckaroo,” cementing his reputation as the African American Gene Autry. He would become a go-to singing cowboy in Hollywood, the good guy riding in on a white horse named Stardust.
His other film credits include musical romance “Calypso Joe” (1957) opposite Angie Dickinson and Westerns “Harlem Rides the Range” (1939) and “Two-Gun Man From Harlem” (1939), where he sang “I’m a Happy Cowboy.”
He also portrayed himself in Western comedy “The Cherokee Kid” in 1996.
Jeffries also had a successful singing career outside of movies. He was a singer with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, as well as other pop orchestras in the 1940s Swing Era. In his musical career, he became best known for jazz hit “Flamingo,” which he sang with Duke Ellington. The song took advantage of his signature baritone voice and would go on to become a jazz classic, selling millions.
Mostly recently, he recorded an album of Western songs in 1995 called “The Bronze Buckaroo Rides Again.” The record was well received by critics.
He also has several television credits, including multiple guest roles on “Hawaii Five-O” and a run on animated sitcom “Where’s Huddles?”
In 2004, the pioneer was inducted to the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
He was born Umberto Alexander Valentino in 1913 in Detroit. His survivors include his wife Savannah and his five children.
More photos here:
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/e...cowboy-crooner-Herb-Jeffries-dies-5505469.php
A pioneer in African American-targeted Western movies and jazz singer Herb Jeffries, the “Bronze Buckaroo,” has died. He was 100.
Jeffries died of heart failure in West Hills, Calif. on Sunday, according to the LA Times. His health had been declining for some time.
The multi-talented Jeffries embraced his mixed heritage — he was of Irish, Ethiopian, Sicilian, French, Moorish and Italian descent — and appeared in his first film in 1937. The movie, “Harlem of the Prairie,” was targeted to black audiences, and jump-started the career for the blue-eyed actor.
In 1939, he appeared in “The Bronze Buckaroo,” cementing his reputation as the African American Gene Autry. He would become a go-to singing cowboy in Hollywood, the good guy riding in on a white horse named Stardust.
His other film credits include musical romance “Calypso Joe” (1957) opposite Angie Dickinson and Westerns “Harlem Rides the Range” (1939) and “Two-Gun Man From Harlem” (1939), where he sang “I’m a Happy Cowboy.”
He also portrayed himself in Western comedy “The Cherokee Kid” in 1996.
Jeffries also had a successful singing career outside of movies. He was a singer with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, as well as other pop orchestras in the 1940s Swing Era. In his musical career, he became best known for jazz hit “Flamingo,” which he sang with Duke Ellington. The song took advantage of his signature baritone voice and would go on to become a jazz classic, selling millions.
Mostly recently, he recorded an album of Western songs in 1995 called “The Bronze Buckaroo Rides Again.” The record was well received by critics.
He also has several television credits, including multiple guest roles on “Hawaii Five-O” and a run on animated sitcom “Where’s Huddles?”
In 2004, the pioneer was inducted to the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
He was born Umberto Alexander Valentino in 1913 in Detroit. His survivors include his wife Savannah and his five children.
More photos here:
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/e...cowboy-crooner-Herb-Jeffries-dies-5505469.php
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