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 1-25 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-37534 10-in. 1/11/1927 Ya gonna be home to-night (Oh yeh? Then I'll be over) Smith Brothers Male vocal duet, with banjo and piano (takes 3-5); with banjo (takes 1 and 2) vocalist  
Victor BVE-37535 10-in. 1/11/1927 Who do you love? Smith Brothers Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist  
Victor BVE-37585 10-in. 2/1/1927 Hoosier sweetheart (Say who) Smith Brothers Male vocal duet, with piano vocalist  
Victor BVE-40162 10-in. 10/10/1927 Back where the daisies grow Edwin J. McEnelly Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BVE-40547 10-in. 11/7/1927 Rain Jacques Renard Cocoanut Grove Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BVE-40588 10-in. 11/17/1927 You came along Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BVE-41104 10-in. 11/23/1927 Among my souvenirs Harold Lambert ; Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-41133 10-in. 12/1/1927 We'll have a new home (In the mornin') Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal chorus vocalist  
Victor BVE-41196 10-in. 12/21/1927 My stormy weather pal Johnny Johnson ; Statler Pennsylvanians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-41520 10-in. 1/5/1928 After my laughter came tears Virginians Orchestra, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BVE-41521 10-in. 1/5/1928 Away down south in heaven Virginians Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-42402 10-in. 2/2/1928 Rain or shine Harold Lambert ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-42403 10-in. 2/2/1928 Forever and ever Harold Lambert ; The Troubadours Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-42411 10-in. 2/6/1928 Mary Ann Billy Hillpot ; Jacques Renard Cocoanut Grove Orchestra ; Harold Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BVE-42428 10-in. 2/9/1928 The beggar Harold Lambert ; Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-43384 10-in. 3/21/1928 I'm more than satisfied All Star Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-43385 10-in. 3/21/1928 Oh, baby! All Star Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-43653 10-in. 4/19/1928 Dream house Art Hickman's Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-47747 10-in. 10/15/1928 My varsity girl I'll cling to you Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-47748 10-in. 10/15/1928 Blossoms that bloom in the moonlight Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-47775 10-in. 10/22/1928 I still keep dreaming of you Nathaniel Shilkret ; Victor Orchestra Orchestra, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-48286 10-in. 12/24/1928 Let's sit and talk about you Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-48302 10-in. 1/24/1929 Sally of my dreams Park Central Orchestra ; Ben Pollack Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-48531 10-in. 1/2/1929 Wait a little while, sweetheart Edwin J. McEnelly Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Victor BVE-48532 10-in. 1/2/1929 Do you? That's all I want to know Edwin J. McEnelly Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed October 15, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 15 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632

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