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 51-75 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-55641 10-in. 7/30/1929 My song of the Nile Burt Lorin ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-55651 10-in. 8/23/1929 How am I to know? Arden-Ohman Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with piano duet and male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-55652 10-in. 8/23/1929 Hello Margot! Arden-Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with piano duet and male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-55805 10-in. 8/26/1929 After the clouds roll by Henry Busse Orchestra ; Burt Lorin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-55806 10-in. 8/26/1929 By the way (I'm still in love with you) Henry Busse Orchestra ; Burt Lorin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-55807 10-in. 8/27/1929 Since I found you Henry Busse Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-56105 10-in. 8/22/1929 Sweetheart, we need each other Burt Lorin ; Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-56106 10-in. 8/22/1929 You're always in my arms (But only in my dreams) Burt Lorin ; Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-56139 10-in. 9/20/1929 Like a breath of spring-time Henry Busse Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-56719 10-in. 9/26/1929 I can do wonders with you Harold Lambert ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-56741 10-in. 10/3/1929 Don't ever leave me! Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-57637 10-in. 11/29/1929 Keep your undershirt on Burt Lorin ; Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-57638 10-in. 11/29/1929 Reaching for the moon Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-58122 10-in. 12/19/1929 Cross your fingers Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-58126 10-in. 12/20/1929 Nina Rosa Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BVE-58127 10-in. 12/20/1929 My first love—my last love Frank Luther ; Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band vocalist  
Victor BVE-58149 10-in. 1/3/1930 To my mammy Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-58557 10-in. 2/6/1930 Any time's the time to fall in love Burt Lorin ; Phil Spitalny Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-58558 10-in. 2/6/1930 The one I love just can't be bothered with me Burt Lorin ; Phil Spitalny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-58621 10-in. 1/24/1930 Blue, turning grey over you Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-62206 10-in. 4/24/1930 Kiss me with your eyes Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-63330 10-in. 8/7/1930 All through the night Hilo Hawaiian Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (Hawaiian) vocalist  
Victor BVE-63331 10-in. 8/7/1930 How are you tonight in Hawaii? Hilo Hawaiian Orchestra ; Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo (Hawaiian) vocalist  
Victor BVE-63602 10-in. 8/28/1930 I'll be blue, just thinking of you Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-63603 10-in. 8/28/1930 Moonlight on the Colorado Burt Lorin ; Frank Luther ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal duet vocalist  
(Results 51-75 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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