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 76-100 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-63604 10-in. 8/28/1930 Don't tell her (what's happened to me) Burt Lorin ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BRC-71298 10-in. 2/3/1932 The wooden soldier and the china doll Burt Lorin ; Victor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BSHQ-71299 10-in. 2/3/1932 The wooden soldier and the china doll Victor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BRC-71802 10-in. 2/3/1932 Rain on the roof Burt Lorin ; Victor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BSHQ-71804 10-in. 2/3/1932 Rain on the roof Victor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-74646 10-in. 12/8/1932 Lucky little accident Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-74647 10-in. 12/8/1932 My cousin in Milwaukee Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-74648 10-in. 12/8/1932 Isn't it a pity Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-74649 10-in. 12/8/1932 I'll see you in the morning Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BS-76859 10-in. 8/4/1933 We're the boys from I. O. U. Al and Pete Male vocal duet, with piano composer  
Columbia W144229 10-in. 5/26/1927 Gorgeous Howard Lanin Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W144232 10-in. 5/26/1927 I'm just drifting along Howard Lanin Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144391 10-in. 6/23/1927 I ain't that kind of a baby Harry Lambert ; The Westerners Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144392 10-in. 6/23/1927 Leonora Broadway Bellhops ; Harry Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144393 10-in. 6/23/1927 I'm in love again Broadway Bellhops ; Harry Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144568 10-in. 8/25/1927 Barbara Broadway Bellhops Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144569 10-in. 8/25/1927 Someday you'll say O.K. Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144570 10-in. 8/25/1927 It was only a sun shower Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W144623 10-in. 9/2/1927 The Calinda Scrappy Lambert ; Radiolites Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144889 10-in. 10/21/1927 There must be somebody else Astorites Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144890 10-in. 10/21/1927 Did you mean it? Astorites Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144891 10-in. 10/21/1927 Among my souvenirs Astorites Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144892 10-in. 10/21/1927 The beggar Harold Rodman Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 144893 10-in. 10/21/1927 My blue heaven Harold Rodman Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 144909 10-in. 10/26/1927 Up in the clouds Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Rodman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 76-100 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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