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 251-275 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W403239 10-in. 11/7/1929 Love me William Dutton Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh W403550 10-in. 12/23/1929 Should I Hotel Pennsylvania Music [Phil Spitalny Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403560 10-in. 12/27/1929 Can't you understand? William Dutton Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh W403561 10-in. 12/27/1929 Molly William Dutton Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh W403627 10-in. 1/15/1930 Blue is the night Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403628 10-in. 1/15/1930 Tea for two Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403629 10-in. 1/15/1930 I want to be happy Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403740 10-in. 2/6/1930 Navy blues Little Molers ; Miff Mole Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403741 10-in. 2/6/1930 Lucky little devil Little Molers ; Miff Mole Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403745 10-in. 2/7/1930 Hello, baby Artie Dunn ; William Dutton Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist  
OKeh W403764 10-in. 2/18/1930 Cryin' for the Carolines Artie Dunn ; William Dutton Male vocal duet, with guitar and piano vocalist  
OKeh W403796 10-in. 3/4/1930 Montana call Arthur Schutt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403840 10-in. 3/10/1930 The moon is low Arthur Schutt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403841 10-in. 3/10/1930 It must be you Arthur Schutt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403842 10-in. 3/10/1930 'Leven-thirty Saturday night Arthur Schutt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403868 10-in. 3/21/1930 I never dreamt (You'd fall in love with me) Dr. Eugene Ormandy's Salon Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403869 10-in. 3/21/1930 The verdict is life (With you) Dr. Eugene Ormandy's Salon Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403870 10-in. 3/21/1930 Only a rose Dr. Eugene Ormandy's Salon Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403957 10-in. 4/15/1930 Dark night Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403958 10-in. 4/15/1930 Santiago Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403959 10-in. 4/15/1930 Into my heart Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W403997 10-in. 5/2/1930 It happened in Monterey William Dutton Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh W403998 10-in. 5/2/1930 Sing a little theme song William Dutton Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
OKeh W404205 10-in. 6/6/1930 I love you so much Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W404206 10-in. 6/6/1930 Can I help it? (If I'm in love with you) Selvin’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 251-275 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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