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 201-225 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
OKeh W400687 10-in. 5/18/1928 Sorry for me William Dutton ; Justin Ring Trio Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
OKeh W400688 10-in. 5/18/1928 Last night I dreamed you kissed me William Dutton ; Justin Ring Trio Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist  
OKeh W400698 10-in. 5/22/1928 That's my mammy Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400699 10-in. 5/22/1928 Dixie dawn Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400706 10-in. 5/25/1928 I must be dreaming New Yorkers ; Joe Venuti Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400707 10-in. 5/25/1928 'Taint so, honey, 'taint so New Yorkers ; Joe Venuti Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400722 10-in. 5/29/1928 Mamma's grown young, Papa's grown old Goofus Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400723 10-in. 5/29/1928 Right or wrong Goofus Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400740 10-in. 6/4/1928 Evening star (Help me find my man) Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400741 10-in. 6/4/1928 Forgetting you Dorsey Brothers Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400767 10-in. 6/8/1928 Because my baby don't mean "maybe" now! Eddie Lang ; New Yorkers ; Joe Venuti Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
OKeh W400768 10-in. 6/8/1928 Just like a melody out of the sky Eddie Lang ; New Yorkers ; Joe Venuti Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400834 10-in. 6/28/1928 I can't give you anything but love Goofus Five Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400835 10-in. 6/28/1928 Ready for the river Goofus Five Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400884 10-in. 7/24/1928 Pickin' cotton New Yorkers ; Joe Venuti Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W400885 10-in. 7/24/1928 I'm on the crest of a wave New Yorkers ; Joe Venuti Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401053 10-in. 8/3/1928 Ten little miles from town Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist  
OKeh W401054 10-in. 8/3/1928 If you don't love me Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist  
OKeh W401055 10-in. 8/3/1928 Why? (Do I love you like I do) Lanin’s Famous Players Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401062 10-in. 8/10/1928 King for a day The Royal Music Makers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401063 10-in. 8/10/1928 Jeannine, I dream of lilac time Joe Green ; Royal Music Makers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401064 10-in. 8/10/1928 Anita Joe Green ; Royal Music Makers Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
OKeh W401065 10-in. 8/16/1928 If you don't love me William Dutton Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
OKeh W401066 10-in. 8/16/1928 Jeannine, I dream of lilac time William Dutton Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
OKeh W401069 10-in. 8/27/1928 Vaniteaser Goofus Five Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 201-225 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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