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 176-200 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W81249 10-in. 8/18/1927 Lucky in love Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W81843 10-in. 11/21/1927 Among my souvenirs Justin Ring's OKeh Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W81844 10-in. 11/21/1927 Away down South in heaven Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W81845 10-in. 11/21/1927 Who knows? Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W81956 10-in. 12/22/1927 My Ohio home Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W81957 10-in. 12/22/1927 I've been longing for a girl like you (For a long, long time) Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W81958 10-in. 12/22/1927 What a wonderful wedding that will be Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400079 10-in. 2/10/1928 Together (Waltz) Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400080 10-in. 2/10/1928 Ramona (Waltz) Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400081 10-in. 2/10/1928 There must be a silver lining (That's shining for me) Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400094 10-in. 2/17/1928 Sunshine Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400095 10-in. 2/17/1928 You'd rather forget than forgive Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400139 10-in. 3/12/1928 Hush-a-bye baby William Dutton ; Justin Ring Trio Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
OKeh W400140 10-in. 3/12/1928 Ramona William Dutton ; Justin Ring Trio Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
OKeh W400144 10-in. 3/14/1928 Coquette (Coqueta) Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400145 10-in. 3/14/1928 The Yale blues Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400603 10-in. 4/10/1928 Borneo Frankie Trumbauer’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400604 10-in. 4/10/1928 My pet Frankie Trumbauer’s Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400608 10-in. 4/11/1928 Dream River Justin Ring Trio ; Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
OKeh W400609 10-in. 4/11/1928 One night of love Justin Ring Trio ; Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
OKeh W400643 10-in. 5/1/1928 (Like a bird that's on the wing) I'm wingin' home Joe Green ; Royal Music Makers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400644 10-in. 5/1/1928 Last night I dreamed you kissed me Joe Green ; Royal Music Makers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400648 10-in. 5/4/1928 I'd rather cry over you (Than smile at somebody else) Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400649 10-in. 5/4/1928 I'm riding to glory (With a glorious girl) Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400650 10-in. 5/4/1928 Get out and get under the moon Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 176-200 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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