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 26-50 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-48577 10-in. 1/16/1929 If I had you Irving Aaronson ; Commanders ; Burt Lorin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-49024 10-in. 12/28/1928 Susianna Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-49026 10-in. 12/28/1928 Gypsy Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-49298 10-in. 12/27/1928 That's her now! Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-49615 10-in. 1/3/1929 Glad rag doll Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-49629 10-in. 1/10/1929 Carolina moon Burt Lorin ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-49959 10-in. 2/15/1929 You were meant for me Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-49982 10-in. 2/21/1929 Shady lady Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-51131 10-in. 4/8/1929 From sunrise to sunset (From sunset till dawn) Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-51132 10-in. 4/8/1929 Why can't you? Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-51193 10-in. 4/19/1929 Hittin' the ceiling Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-51604 10-in. 4/4/1929 I get the blues when it rains Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53476 10-in. 6/28/1929 Junior Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53517 10-in. 5/27/1929 I'd like to be a Gypsy Burt Lorin ; Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53518 10-in. 5/27/1929 Finding the long way home Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53523 10-in. 5/28/1929 Or what have you? Arden-Ohman Orchestra ; Burt Lorin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53524 10-in. 5/28/1929 I've made a habit of you Arden-Ohman Orchestra ; Burt Lorin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53947 10-in. 7/25/1929 In the hush of the night Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53948 10-in. 7/25/1929 Won'tcha? Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53949 10-in. 7/25/1929 Bashful baby Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53960 10-in. 7/29/1929 Should I? Arden-Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53961 10-in. 7/29/1929 I've waited a lifetime for you Arden-Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53989 10-in. 8/15/1929 Where the sweet forget-me-nots remember Burt Lorin ; Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53990 10-in. 8/15/1929 Song of the blues Burt Lorin ; Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-53991 10-in. 8/15/1929 True blue Lou Burt Lorin ; Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 26-50 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed April 23, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 23, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 23 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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