It is the late 1930's, and up on the theater screen, Herb Jeffries stars as the first b-western black cowboy, the Bronze Buckaroo, in a series of oaters made specifically for the Afro-American audience. (Note the singular spelling of his name on the movie poster.)

     It is the 1940's, and out of radios and record players, the melodious voice of Herb Jeffries flows, singing his renditions of "Flamingo" and "Satin Doll," songs he made famous while performing with Duke Ellington's band.

     It is the 1990s and into the new millennium, and from performance stages and CD players, the voice of Herb Jeffries entertains and….
Well, perhaps the mathematically prone have already done their double-takes over the span of time presented. But, there are no typographical errors here. On September 24, 2004, Herb Jeffries will be 92 years "vintage" (as he likes to call it).
     "We're subliminally brainwashed with that word 'old,'" he says.

     The man is a marvel.In appearance and in voice, he seems a person half his age….NO exaggeration. His voice sounds stronger now than it has ever been.

     The long and continuing career of Herb Jeffries is a phenomenon of American culture. Born of an Irish mother and an Italian father , and with an Ethiopian great-grandmother, Herb "chose to be black" early on, giving Afro-American children a handsome six-gun hero of their own to emulate, unlike the typical black stereotypes available in b-westerns (and most other films) of the period, where "Stepin Fetchits" would portray comic-relief characters who were afraid of ghosts and bereft of dignity. "Harlem on the Prairie" (1937), "Two Guns Made from Harlem" (1938), "The Bronze Buckaroo" (1939), and "Harlem Rides the Range" (1939) presented heroic images with which their audiences could identify.

     When the demand for b-westerns faded, Mr. Jeffries concentrated on his vocal skills, working with Duke Ellington, among others, where he became identified with such standards as "Flamingo" and "Satin Doll."

     In the 50's, he appeared in a handful of Hollywood films. He then made a decision to move to France, where he spent a decade running a night club frequented by many a Hollywood personality. He appeared in some 60's TV shows, had a period of limited exposure, and then re-emerged in the 90's, recording a comeback album.

     Now, at nearly 92, he is a very busy man, involved in more recordings, live appearances, and, recently, a request performance for the president at the White House.

     Herb Jeffries is now working on his autobiography. There is talk of a movie of his life story, and, at this writing, I am informed that he is soon to get his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

     A more thorough assemblage of information regarding the life and times and history of this special man can be found on his own website: www.herbjeffries.com.

     Imagine a dream where time stands still, and all that was still is, where cowboy heroes of one's childhood continue to ride today's range, and songsters sing youth's ballads into an adulthood's refrain, and that is the wonder known as Herb Jeffries.

Copyright © 2004 by John DiMezzes