Herb Jeffries: Hollywood's Original Black Singing Cowboy

Herb Jeffries was born in 1913 of a Black Father of Sicilian Descent and an Irish mother, in a 1920 Census Document he was described as ‘Mulatto.’ He grew up as a ‘Ghetto Baby’ in a diverse neighborhood in Detroit and was not exposed to severe Racism early on. He began singing as a teenager and later dropped out of school after The Wall Street Crash of 1929 to hopefully earn a living as a Singer.

On one of his first gigs in a Detroit Ballroom he caught the attention of Louis Armstrong who gave him a recommendation for Erskin Tate’s all Black Band at the Savoy Ballroom in Chicago. To fit in Herb claimed to be Creole and later toured as a featured singer with Earl ‘Fatha’ Hines Orchestra in the Deep South where he encountered for the first time Segregation something he’d never experienced.

Herb was affected so deeply by what he saw in The South he vowed to himself to create a Black Cowboy that young Black Boys could be proud of as he himself had always been a Western Buff and that he did. He fulfilled that promise when The Bronze Buckaroo was released in 1939 and became Black America’s Hero. There were many more movies to come.

Racism was Overt and Blatant during these times and many fair-complexioned Blacks were ‘Passing’ in order to get over. There are a few Current Celebrities I suspect are guilty of this to a degree by not acknowledging their African-American Heritage Unless it Benefited them. So they ‘Got Over’ but later when they needed that ‘Flava’ they let it be known they were, indeed, Black. One in particular is very Big these days; I was not fooled as Black Men have a Certain Resonance in their Voice.

Herb Jeffries never took the easy way to go although he could have; with his Blue Eyes, Brown Wavy Hair, and Ultra Fair Complexion no one would have questioned him. There was always a concern that Black Audiences might be confused by his Appearance as well as White Audiences.

“I’m not Passing, I Never Have, I Never Will. For all the years I’ve been Wavering about the Color Question, Suddenly I Decided to fill in the Blank Just by the way I Look and Feel.” —Herb Jeffries

Herb had the opportunity to sing with the World Renowned Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington Band during 1930 through the 1940s. Two of the most famous Songs are "Just to Be in Carolina" and "Flamingo;" 1934 and 1940. One of my favorites is "The Devil Is A Woman." I recognized "Just To Be In Carolina" because Daffy Duck sang it in one of his cartoons.

In 1941 Herb was drafted into the US Army during WWII, he utilized that time and entertained the troops with his unique jazzy baritone voice, but he could also sing falsetto. After the war he released several more records that were popular.

Herb starred in a movie with Angie Dickenson in 1957, Calypso Joe where of course he is spotlighted and sings his heart out.

In 1995 at age 81 Herb recorded an album of Western Songs. In 1998 Herb got his Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2004 Herb was inducted into The Western Performers Hall of Fame and The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, OK.

Herb Jeffries left us in 2004, he was 100 years old. He lived his life as the Best Cowboy he could be.

“Many People Come Into This World by Stork, I came by Flamingo and Duke Ellington Delivered Me.” —Herb Jeffries