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 601-607 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick PB460-PB461 10-in. Apr. 1928 [Unknown title(s)] Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick PB462-PB463 10-in. Apr. 1928 Moments with you Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and vocal effects vocalist  
Brunswick PB464-PB465 10-in. Apr. 1928 Whisper sweet and whisper low Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick PB466-PB467 10-in. Apr. 1928 Mississippi lullaby Jack Denny Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick TCL1528 10-in. 9/16/1931 When Yuba plays the rumba on the tuba Three Minute Men Male vocal trio, with tuba and guitar vocalist  
Edison 11249 10-in. 10/15/1926 Just one more kiss Don Voorhees and his Earl Carroll's Vanities Orchestra ; Harold Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Edison 11250 10-in. 10/15/1926 I'd love to call you my sweetheart Don Voorhees and his Earl Carroll's Vanities Orchestra ; Harold Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 601-607 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed April 29, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 29, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 29 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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