Herb Jeffries in Sacramento - "Poinciana"

Herb Jeffries at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, May 1989. Backed by the George Bruno sextet, local PBS broadcast.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• duke
• ellington
• vocals

[caz4777]

I met this gentleman, along with with Art Lund at the State Theatre in 1986. They signed my programme, and he suggested I take a photo of him with Art Lund, which I did. They were such nice people. All the best to you sir.

[idyllmkm]

We are so privileged to have Herb living and performing in Idyllwild. He is so talented and down to earth at the same time.

[RayPointer]

@strangersf Actually, his paternal grandmother seems to have been black in fact. There is Moroccan ancestry, which is North African. Mr Jeffries (born Ballantino) was a mulatto. People of this background had always had the stigma of having others discard them for not conforming to their definitions. In such a case, Mr. Jeffries was too dark to be white, and too light to be black. He was, and is a charming, super talent man, period. Thank goodness we have these few records of him.

[strangersf]

he wasn't black. Hismother was Irish and his father was Sicilian. That does not diminish his impact..

[iluminatiytu]

So cool!

[sugarbarre]

I have photos candid of Herb when he sang in Hawaii at my mom's nightclub.

He hung around the club and socialized all the time with her and the gals. Oh god, he was so handsome. If you haven't seen him young and more handsome. You are missing it. But then I didn't have any sound. So thanks so much. He didn't seem to have a wife with him.

[iluminatiytu]

Herb was a better than most crooners at the time, yet he did not get the attention or the recognition he deserved. I thought he was terrfific and still is!

[MrPaladin123]

There are some pieces of music, no matter who plays them, that bring a smile and a tear, in appreciation of the gift that is music. Once in a while, a piece is augmented and enhanced by a sensitive and classy performance. This is one of those times. Thank you for sharing your talent, Mr. Jeffries!!!!! Thanks Hardbat for posting this!

[Starrman69]

Great! Still with us at 94!!! A piece of Americana with his music and movies

[congaplayera]

Thank you, ojojoj51 for both the referral and the history lesson which is especially poignant, since I am African-American.