Herb Jeffries, “The Bronze Buckaroo,” Passes Away at 100
Herb Jeffries, who starred in early black westerns as a singing cowboy known as “the Bronze Buckaroo,” passed away on Sunday, May 25, 2014, in West Hills, Calif. He was believed to be 100.
In the late 1930s, Mr. Jeffries became Hollywood’s first “black singing cowboy.” He later rose to international stardom singing the 1940s hit song “Flamingo” with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. Throughout his long and legendary career, the multi-talented Mr. Jeffries entertained audiences the world over as a singer, a movie director, a film and television star, and a nightclub owner and ladies’ man.
In 2007, AMS Pictures had the pleasure to work with Mr. Jeffries on a documentary about his life and career entitled, A Colored Life: The Herb Jeffries Story. “Herb Jeffries was one of those people you are honored to meet,” reflected AMS Pictures CEO, Andy Streitfeld. “We should all be so lucky to live such an interesting and full life. Getting to meet folks like Herb is why I love this business so much.”
A full obituary covering Mr. Jeffries’ life and achievements can be found on the New York Times website.
Herb Jeffries in a 2007 interview for the documentary, “A Colored Life.”
Herb Jeffries, center, poses with, left to right, wife Savannah, AMS CEO Andy Streitfeld, and AMS Producer Kim Clemons at the wrap party for “A Colored Life.”