Jeffries told American Visions, a publication on African-American culture, in 1997 that he was inspired to seek backing for the cowboy movies after seeing a black boy crying because other children with him "wouldn't let him play cowboy. But in the real West, one of every four cowboys was black Speed Date."

But he had no plans to star in them himself, he said, until the search for a suitable actor-singer-rider came up short and he embarked on a crash course on lasso handling and other Western skills if say some sun.

Strait said Jeffries recently had several surgeries that "just wore him out." He added that Jeffries "believed in one world and one people and was one of the most generous people I've ever met. He was always funding something or doing something for kids thank gods grapes."

Jeffries is survived by his fifth wife, Savannah; three daughters; and two sons moonlight dance deep.

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Biographical material in this story was written by former AP staffer Polly Anderson paradise cook amourlilibaby travel around the world.

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