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 551-575 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E27082-E27084 10-in. 3/20/1928 The beggar A. & P. Gypsies ; Harry Horlick ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E27084) vocalist  
Brunswick E27095-E27097 10-in. 3/22/1928 Speedy boy Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E27097) vocalist  
Brunswick E27098-E27100 10-in. 3/22/1928 Borneo Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet; without vocal (take E27100) vocalist  
Brunswick E27105-E27107 10-in. 3/23/1928 I’m always smiling Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E27107) vocalist  
Brunswick E27108-E27110 10-in. 3/23/1928 I’d love to go around with you Colonial Club Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E27110) vocalist  
Brunswick E27111-E27113 10-in. 3/23/1928 Beside a lazy stream Frank Black Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E27113) vocalist  
Brunswick E27150-E27152 10-in. 3/27/1928 Dream River Joe Green Novelty Marimba Band Marimba band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E27152) vocalist  
Brunswick E30502-E30503 10-in. 8/20/1929 I may be wrong (But, I think you’re wonderful) Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30531-E30532 10-in. 9/6/1929 Wait for the happy ending Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30538-E30539 10-in. 9/9/1929 Nobody knows (And nobody seems to care) Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30540-E30541 10-in. 9/9/1929 Smiles Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30542-E30543 10-in. 9/9/1929 Say it with music Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30617-E30618 10-in. Aug. 1929 Just you, just me Al Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30619-E30620 10-in. Aug. 1929 Marianne Al Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick XE30688-XE30689 12-in. 8/16/1929 Fox Movietone follies : Medley Brunswick Salon Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo' without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30712-E30713 10-in. 8/27/1929 They didn‘t believe me Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30968-E30969 10-in. 9/23/1929 Dance away the night Louis Katzman Brunswick Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30977-E30978 10-in. Sept. 1929 Please come back to me Regent Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30979-E30980 10-in. Sept. 1929 Love me Regent Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30981-E30982 10-in. September 1929 You’re always in my arms (But only in my dreams) Regent Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E30995-E30996 10-in. Sept. 1929 Love (Your spell is everywhere) Meyer Davis Hotel Astor Orchestra ; Joe Moss Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31100-E31101 10-in. Oct. 1929 That’s why I’m jealous of you Meyer Davis’ Swanee Syncopators Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31132-E31133 10-in. Oct. 1929 That wonderful something (Is love) Roy Ingraham Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31146-E31147 10-in. October 1929 ‘Twas not so long ago Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31207-E31208 10-in. Oct. 1929 If I can’t have you (If you can’t have me) Herbert Gordon ; Hotel Ten Eyck Whispering Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
(Results 551-575 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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