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 476-500 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E4228-E4230 10-in. 12/14/1926 Moonlight on the Ganges Al Goering's Collegians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E4231-E4232 10-in. 12/14/1926 Hello! Swanee, hello! Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E4400-E4402 10-in. 1/21/1927 Blue skies Al Goering's Collegians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E6831-E6832 10-in. 1/11/1928 Among my souvenirs Richard Green Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick E6833-E6834 10-in. 1/11/1928 Diane (I'm in heaven when I see you smile) Richard Green Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick E7113-E7114 10-in. 2/6/1928 My melancholy baby Richard Green Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick E7115-E7116 10-in. 2/6/1928 Everywhere you go Richard Green Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick E7156-E7157 10-in. 2/11/1928 Ramona Miami Marimba Band Marimba band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E7158-E7159 10-in. 2/11/1928 Gypsy love song Miami Marimba Band Marimba band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E7176-E7177 10-in. 2/27/1928 Sunshine Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E7178-E7179 10-in. 2/27/1928 Chloe Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E7229-E7231 10-in. 3/24/1928 Girl of my dreams Miami Marimba Band Marimba band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E7231) vocalist  
Brunswick E20022-E20023 10-in. 9/3/1926 Why do ya roll those eyes? Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E20807-E20809 10-in. 11/24/1926 If I’d only believed in you Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E20810-E20812 10-in. 11/24/1926 I’m tellin’ the birds, tellin’ the bees how I love you Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E20856-E20857 10-in. 12/1/1926 I’m tellin’ the birds, tellin’ the bees, how I love you Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E20937-E20939 10-in. 12/13/1926 Lonely eyes Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E20940-E20942 10-in. 12/13/1926 Who’ll be the one? Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E21041-E21043 10-in. 12/23/1926 “Je t’aime” means “I love you” Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E21044-E21046 10-in. 12/23/1926 He’s the last word Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E21336-E21338 10-in. 1/27/1927 I can't believe that you're in love with me Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E21339-E21341 10-in. 1/27/1927 My little bunch of happiness Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E21352-E21354 10-in. 1/28/1927 I'm looking over a four leaf clover Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E21355-E21357 10-in. 1/28/1927 Ain’t she sweet? Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Brunswick E21459-E21461 10-in. 2/9/1927 Underneath the weeping willow Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
(Results 476-500 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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