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 101-125 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 144910 10-in. 10/26/1927 Thinking of you Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Rodman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 144911 10-in. 10/26/1927 Make my cot where the cot-cot-cotton grows Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Rodman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W144916 10-in. 10/26/1927 Dream kisses Ipana Troubadours ; Harold Lambert ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W144917 10-in. 10/26/1927 There must be somebody else Harold Lambert ; Radiolites Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145261 10-in. 11/30/1927 There's one little girl who loves me (One little girl who don't) Ipana Troubadours ; Harold Lambert ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145262 10-in. 11/30/1927 'S wonderful Ipana Troubadours ; Scrappy Lambert ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145296 10-in. 12/10/1927 I fell head over heels in love Fred Rich Hotel Astor Orchestra ; Harold Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145399 10-in. 12/28/1927 Sorry Radiolites Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145476 10-in. 1/4/1928 What a wonderful wedding that will be Harold Lambert ; Paul Ash Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 145519 10-in. 1/12/1928 Back in your own back yard Harold Rodman Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 145520 10-in. 1/12/1928 In the sing song sycamore tree Harold Rodman Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Columbia 145536 10-in. 1/17/1928 What do you say? Frank Farrell ; Greenwich Village Inn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 145537 10-in. 1/17/1928 Back in your own back yard Frank Farrell ; Greenwich Village Inn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 145538 10-in. 1/17/1928 Singapore sorrows Frank Farrell ; Greenwich Village Inn Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145549 10-in. 1/21/1928 Four walls Ipana Troubadours ; Harold Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145550 10-in. 1/21/1928 I still love you Harold Lambert ; Radiolites Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145551 10-in. 1/21/1928 In the sing song sycamore tree Ipana Troubadours ; Harold Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145664 10-in. 2/23/1928 After my laughter came tears Ipana Troubadours ; Harold Lambert ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W145665 10-in. 2/23/1928 Sunshine Ipana Troubadours ; Harold Lambert ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 145698 10-in. 2/29/1928 Coquette Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Rodman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 145699 10-in. 2/29/1928 In the sweet bye and bye Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Rodman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 145700 10-in. 2/29/1928 She's a great, great girl The Westerners Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 146233 10-in. 5/3/1928 I'd rather cry over you (Than smile at someone else) Broadway Bellhops Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 146234 10-in. 5/3/1928 (My heart keeps) Speaking of love Broadway Bellhops ; Harold Rodman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 146235 10-in. 5/3/1928 Get out and get under the moon Broadway Bellhops Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 101-125 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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