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 126-150 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W146292 10-in. 5/18/1928 Dixie dawn Ipana Troubadours ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W146307 10-in. 5/18/1928 Sweet Lorraine Radiolites Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 146313 10-in. 5/21/1928 Just a little bit o' driftwood The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 146314 10-in. 5/21/1928 One alone The Harmonians [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia 146315 10-in. 5/21/1928 The desert song Bar Harbor Society Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]146948 10-in. 9/5/1928 Beloved Emil Velazco Pipe organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]146949 10-in. 9/5/1928 Jeannine I dream of lilac time Emil Velazco Pipe organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]146950 10-in. 9/5/1928 Last night I dreamed you kissed me Emil Velazco Pipe organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]146951 10-in. 9/5/1928 Just a night for meditation Emil Velazco Pipe organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W147142 10-in. 10/25/1928 Glorianna Ipana Troubadours ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W147143 10-in. 10/25/1928 Do you? That's all I want to know! Ipana Troubadours ; Sam Lanin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]147957 10-in. 2/11/1929 Carolina moon Franklyn Ferris ; Sidney James Organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]147958 10-in. 2/11/1929 If I had you Franklyn Ferris ; Sidney James Organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]148909 10-in. 8/20/1929 Carry me back to old Virginny Franklyn Ferris ; Sidney James Organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]148910 10-in. 8/20/1929 Little pal Franklyn Ferris ; Sidney James Organ solo, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W149622 10-in. 12/27/1929 I want to be happy Ipana Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W149623 10-in. 12/27/1929 Tea for two Ipana Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]149713 10-in. 12/12/1929 Through! (How can you say we're through?) Lloyd Keating and his Music ; Jack Lord Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]149714 10-in. 12/12/1929 Have a little faith in me Lloyd Keating and his Music ; Jack Lord Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]149715 10-in. 12/12/1929 You do something to me Lloyd Keating and his Music ; Jack Lord Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]149716 10-in. 12/12/1929 The more I'm in love with you Phil Spitalny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia W149922 10-in. 1/28/1930 Kickin' a hole in the sky Ipana Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]149996 10-in. 2/19/1930 Promises Frank Auburn and his Orchestra [Lloyd Keating and his Music] ; Jack Lord Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]149997 10-in. 2/19/1930 Up on top of a rainbow, sweepin' the clouds away Lloyd Keating and his Music ; Jack Lord Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Columbia [W]149998 10-in. 2/19/1930 With you Hotel Pennsylvania Music [Lloyd Keating and his Music] ; Jack Lord Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 126-150 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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