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 401-425 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick XE30714 12-in. 8/27/1929 Brunswick brevities program E, part 2 Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Radio transcription disc : Jazz/dance band; with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick XE30715 12-in. 8/27/1929 Brunswick brevities program E, part 5 Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Radio transcription disc : Jazz/dance band; with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick XE30716 12-in. 8/27/1929 Brunswick brevities program E, part 3 Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Radio transcription disc : Jazz/dance band; with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick XE30717 12-in. 8/27/1929 Brunswick brevities program E, part 4 Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Radio transcription disc : Jazz/dance band; with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E30999 10-in. Sept. 1929 Ev’ry day away from you Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E31000 10-in. Sept. 1929 When the real thing comes your way Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E31001 10-in. Sept. 1929 Like a breath of springtime Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick XE31156 12-in. 10/9/1929 Brunswick Brevities program M, pt. 4 Colonial Club Orchestra Radio transcription disc : Jazz/dance band; with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick XE31163 12-in. 10/9/1929 Brunswick brevities program M, part 3 Scrappy Lambert Radio transcription disc : Male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E31270 10-in. 10/22/1929 Say it with music Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E31273 10-in. Oct. 1929 Sweetheart, we need each other Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E31274 10-in. Oct. 1929 You’re always in my arms (But only in my dreams) Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E31400 10-in. Nov. 1929 Through! (How can you say we’re through?) Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Brunswick E31401 10-in. Nov. 1929 Sweetheart, we need each other Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Brunswick E31402 10-in. Nov. 1929 You’re always in my arms (But only in my dreams) Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Brunswick XE31426 12-in. 10/30/1929 Brunswick brevities program O, pt. 5 Brunswick Concert Orchestra Radio transcription disc : Orchestra, with male vocal solo; with female vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E31474 10-in. November 1929 Don’t ever leave me! Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E32184 10-in. Mar. 1930 Lazy Lou’siana moon Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E32185 10-in. Mar. 1930 It happened in Monterey Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E32204 10-in. Feb. 1930 Without love Al Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32319 10-in. Mar. 1930 A cottage for sale Colonial Club Orchestra [Anglo-Persians] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32320 10-in. Mar. 1930 Watching my dreams go by Colonial Club Orchestra [Anglo-Persians] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32440 10-in. Mar. 1930 My reveries Castlewood Marimba Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32578 10-in. Apr. 1930 Wherever you are Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32624 10-in. Apr. 1930 I’m in the market for you Bob Haring Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 401-425 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed May 17, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 17, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 17 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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