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 576-600 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick XE31251-XE31252 12-in. Oct. 1929 Rio Rita—Medley Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick XE31253-XE31254 12-in. Oct. 1929 Rio Rita—Medley Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31266-E31267 10-in. 10/22/1929 Get happy The Captivators Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31268-E31269 10-in. 10/22/1929 Somebody to love me The Captivators Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31441-E31442 10-in. Nov. 1929 My fate is in your hands Meyer Davis Hotel Astor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31443-E31444 10-in. Nov. 1929 If I had my way Meyer Davis Hotel Astor Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31445-E31446 10-in. Nov. 1929 Love made a gypsy out of me Bob Haring Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31657-E31658 10-in. Dec. 1929 Only the girl A&P Gypsies Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31838-E31839 10-in. January 1930 Charming Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31896-E31897 10-in. Jan. 1930 A night of happiness Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31898-E31899 10-in. Jan. 1930 Beside an open fireplace Jack Denny ; Mount Royal Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31993-E31994 10-in. Jan. 1930 Blue is the night Meyer Davis' Hotel Astor Orchestra ; Joe Moss Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E31995-E31996 10-in. Jan. 1930 Farewell Meyer Davis' Hotel Astor Orchestra ; Joe Moss Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E35891-E35892 10-in. 1/6/1931 When your hair has turned to silver (I will love you just the same) Castlewood Marimba Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E35893-E35894 10-in. 1/6/1931 Little sweetheart of the prairie Castlewood Marimba Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E35895-E35896 10-in. 1/6/1931 Blue Pacific moonlight Castlewood Marimba Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E36897-E36898 10-in. 6/30/1931 High and low (I’ve been looking for you) Art Kahn's Orchestra [Victor Young Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E27133-E271335 10-in. 3/26/1928 Moonlight Lane Joe Green Novelty Marimba Band Marimba band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take E27135) vocalist  
Brunswick PB446-PB447 10-in. Apr. 1928 Bells of St. Mary’s Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick PB448-PB449 10-in. Apr. 1928 I can’t do without you Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick PB450-PB451 10-in. Apr. 1928 [Unknown title(s)] Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick PB452-PB453 10-in. Apr. 1928 There’s always a way to remember (But I can’t find a way to forget) Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick PB454-PB455 10-in. Apr. 1928 [Unknown title(s)] Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick PB456-PB457 10-in. Apr. 1928 I still love you Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick PB458-PB459 10-in. Apr. 1928 Hello, Montreal! Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal effects vocalist  
(Results 576-600 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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