Born Herbert Jeffrey in Detroit, Michigan, Herb's name came about when a printer misspelled his name for the recording "Blue Because of You" with Earl "Fatha" Hines.
Described as light skin with dark wavy hair and a sporty mustache. Sometimes mistaken for Latino. Herb had a baritone voice. Raconteur (storyteller or a person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing way.) with confidence, jaunty savoir faire (the ability to act or speak appropriately in social situations.).
Actress Ruby Dee found him to be very handsome.
According to Jeffries, Whites used the word Harlem to identify with Blacks (then Negroes) in such films as
.JPG)
.JPG)
