Herb Jeffries was born in Detroit, Michigan on September 24, 1912. Born into a theatrical family, Jeffries sang with a local combo in his neighborhood and soon was performing on the radio.

In Chicago he was discovered by Earl "Fatha" Hines. With his wonderful baritone voice he performed with the greatest bands of the day. While traveling in the south, he noticed thousands of movie theaters showing White cowboy movies, but there were no Black cowboy movies.

This was in the 30's, and he wanted Black kids to have to have Black cowboy heroes too. While in Los Angeles on tour he started looking for backing to make cowboy movies and give Black kids a hero. He found the backing, but he still needed an actor to ride a horse, sing and act. Jeffries was blue-eyed and fair-skinned and didn't think he would be accepted.

With some makeup and a big white hat, he found himself the star of the movies he had envisioned. "The Bronze Buckaroo" was born, along with his horse "Stardusk". The Bronze Buckaroo gave Black kids the first and only Black singing cowboy. He even had a sidekick, Dusty. Jeffries starred in only four singing cowboy movies such as "Bob Blake, the Bronze Buckaroo." These movies are now classics.

One thing Jeffries did not do was ride off into the sunset. This jazz-era heartthrob at 84 years young is still going strong. He currently has a new CD, "Herb Jeffries, The Bronze Buckaroo Rides Again."