Scrappy Lambert

Harold "Scrappy" Lambert (May 12, 1901 – November 30, 1987, in New Brunswick, New Jersey) was an American dance-band vocalist who appeared on hundreds of recordings from the 1920s to the 1940s.

At Rutgers University, he was a cheerleader and played piano for a jazz group, the Rutgers Jazz Bandits. In February 1925, fellow student Billy Hillpot and he formed a musical duo impersonating the Smith Brothers. They were discovered in 1926 by Ben Bernie, who signed them to perform with his orchestra. Lambert and Hillpot appeared on many recordings with the orchestra and remained under Bernie's employ until 1928.

Other bandleaders who employed Lambert include Red Nichols, Frank Britton Wenzel, Fred Rich, and Sam Lanin.

In the 1920s and early 1930s, Lambert was one of the most prolific "band vocalists" (hired to sing the vocal chorus on recordings by both performing orchestras and studio groups). His voice is featured on hundreds of recordings and a series of vocal solo recordings for Brunswick.

In the 1930s, Lambert and Hillpot took their comedy routine to the National Broadcasting Company. In 1943, MCA offered Lambert a job overseeing their radio department in Beverly Hills, California. This marked the end of his singing career, and he worked for MCA until 1948. He was living in Palm Springs at the time of his death, in Riverside, California.

"Cheerio, Cherry Lips, Cheerio", a 1929 vocal that Lambert recorded under the name Gordon Wallace, has been the closing theme of Dr. Demento's weekly radio broadcast since the early 1970s.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 12, 1901 (New Brunswick), Died November 30, 1987 (Riverside)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1933

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, tenor vocal, composer

Notes: Also used pseudonym Burt Lorin.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 226-250 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W401070 10-in. 8/27/1928 All of the time Goofus Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401134 10-in. 9/20/1928 Love affairs Frankie Trumbauer’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401145 10-in. 9/25/1928 Sonny boy Justin Ring Trio ; Noel Taylor [Irving Kaufman] Male vocal solo, with instrumental quartet vocalist  
OKeh W401250 10-in. 10/19/1928 Then came the dawn Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
OKeh W401251 10-in. 10/19/1928 There's a rainbow 'round my shoulder Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
OKeh W401392 10-in. 11/26/1928 Where the shy little violets grow Detroiters ; Milt Shaw Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401458 10-in. 12/14/1928 Once in a lifetime Mike Markel's Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401459 10-in. 12/14/1928 To know you is to love you Mike Markel's Society Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401893 10-in. 5/16/1929 The one in the world Ed Kirkeby Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401894 10-in. 5/16/1929 Pagan love song Ed Kirkeby Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401895 10-in. 5/16/1929 I get the blues when it rains Ed Kirkeby Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402424 10-in. 6/6/1929 With a song in my heart Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh W402425 10-in. 6/6/1929 Miss you Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh W402858 10-in. 8/16/1929 My song of the Nile Justin Ring Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402859 10-in. 8/16/1929 Sleepy valley Justin Ring Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402860 10-in. 8/16/1929 True blue Lou Justin Ring Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402865 10-in. 8/19/1929 Singin' in the rain Richard Jordon Organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402866 10-in. 8/20/1929 Little pal Richard Jordon Organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402885 10-in. 8/27/1929 Here we care Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh W402886 10-in. 8/27/1929 Mem'ries of one sweet kiss Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh W402935 10-in. 9/6/1929 True blue Lou Richard Jordon Organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402953 10-in. 9/17/1929 Go to bed Dr. Eugene Ormandy's Salon Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402954 10-in. 9/17/1929 Dance away the night Dr. Eugene Ormandy's Salon Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W402955 10-in. 9/17/1929 Like a breath of spring-time Dr. Eugene Ormandy's Salon Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403238 10-in. 11/7/1929 To be forgotten William Dutton Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
(Results 226-250 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632

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