The entertainer known throughout South Florida as simply Electra was born into a Navy family as Jim Lyman Buff in 1958.
After receiving his MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in 1984, he enjoyed an extensive career in costume and make-up design on and off Broadway during the 1980s and ‘90s. During those years in New York, he also designed props, costumes, make-up, and sets for films, such as Johnny Suede starring Brad Pitt. He also styled many commercials for clients as varied as Nabisco and Burger King. It was during this time that Electra was born. Electra was created from a friendly dare and presented to a large, rowdy group on Halloween in 1977 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thus began a roller coaster ride in show biz. In addition to his day jobs working on the staff of the shows of Howard Stern and Joan Rivers, Jim Buff appeared as Electra in cabaret shows in posh Manhattan nightclubs as well as touring the country!
From summers on Fire Island to private parties throughout NYC, Long Island, Connecticut, and New Jersey, Buff perfected his skills to become one of the most sought-after Queens of the 1980s and ‘90s. Starring in “An Evening at La Cage” brought him to South Florida. He soon became a regular at many LGBTQ clubs such as the Warsaw Ballroom, Paragon, and the Copa, both in Fort Lauderdale and Key West. During the early ‘90s he headlined in a brief tour at the Sands Hotel in Puerto Rico called Hollywood Legends. He worked constantly, from the smallest of venues to large casino resorts such as Resorts Casino Hotels, Divas In A Man’s World in Atlantic City, and performing for thousands of folks worldwide at the legendary Post Office Cabaret in Provincetown, Massachusetts. With plenty of cabaret experience and little to no restaurant experience, Electra opened the very popular four-star Madame’s Restaurant and Cabaret in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, which operated for five successful years before she sold it to her business partner.
Throughout the years, Electra has received several awards for outstanding work in design and female impersonation. These awards include San Francisco’s Bay Area Drama Desk Award for design, MAC Award for Female Impersonation, Miss Gay NYC 1986, Miss Fire Island 1985, Florida Entertainer Of The Year 1994, National Entertainer of the Year 1994, Miss Florida 1997, Miss Florida National 1995, Miss Florida Continental Elite 2010, and Miss Continental Elite 2010!
Buff’s ability to make audiences laugh or cry at the drop of a heel is unquestionable. Perfecting his uncanny 35+ look-a-likes is his passion. This keeps him on his (sequined) toes! Usually averaging six to nine personas at each performance. Some of his impersonations are so spot on they make the real stars have a second look! Bette Midler said to him, “You do me better, and more often than I do me!” Hollywood staple Bruce Vilanch has said to Electra, “You have captured Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, and Elton to a tee!” The NY Post declared him “The Man Of A Thousand Ladies” and the Miami Herald said, “Electra truly is living the legends!”
After celebrating more than four decades in the entertainment industry, Electra is not only hanging up her heels, she is auctioning her costumes in preparation for Buff’s retirement with his partner, Stavros, in Greece!
Jim Buff will present Electra for her last and final performance, her swan song, “Electra! I Did It Their Way: The Bucket List Tour” at The Wilton Collective event space, 1414 On 26, on Saturday, March 15, where the silent auction for her costumes will take place. Tickets are priced from $30 to $500. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com.
