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 326-350 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E28318 10-in. 9/27/1928 Woman disputed (I love you) Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E28319 10-in. 9/27/1928 Beggars of life Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E28389 10-in. 10/27/1928 You’re the cream in my coffee Colonial Club Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E28443 10-in. 10/3/1928 I can’t make her happy (That old girl of mine) William Wirges Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E28688 10-in. 11/16/1928 She’s funny that way (I got a woman, crazy for me) Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E28866 10-in. 12/3/1928 The song I love Joe Rines Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E28880 10-in. 12/7/1928 I’m bringing a red-red rose Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E28881 10-in. 12/7/1928 Makin’ whoopee! Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E28888 10-in. 12/11/1928 No other love (Was meant for me) Scrappy Lambert ; William Wirges Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E28889 10-in. 12/11/1928 The glory of spring Scrappy Lambert ; William Wirges Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E29015 10-in. 12/31/1928 Don’t remind me (I’m trying to forget) Scrappy Lambert ; Meyer Davis' Swanee Syncopators Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E29020 10-in. 1/4/1929 Susianna Moe Baer ; Wardman Park Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, tenor vocal  
Brunswick E29023 10-in. 1/3/1929 All by yourself in the moonlight Colonial Club Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E29024 10-in. 1/3/1929 Avalon town Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E29240 10-in. 2/11/1929 Glad rag doll Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E29241 10-in. 2/11/1929 St. Louis blues Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E29283 10-in. 2/8/1929 Carolina moon Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E29284 10-in. 2/8/1929 The song I love Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E29285 10-in. 2/8/1929 If I had you Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist  
Brunswick E29338 10-in. Feb.1929 My castle in Spain is a shack in the lane Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E29339 10-in. Feb.1929 Mean to me Ben Bernie ; Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E29343 10-in. Feb. 1929 Broadway melody Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Brunswick E29344 10-in. Feb. 1929 You were meant for me Scrappy Lambert Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist  
Brunswick E29346 10-in. Feb. 1929 Blue waters Regent Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
Brunswick E29347 10-in. Feb. 1929 Because I know you’re mine Bob Haring Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo; without vocal (take G) vocalist  
(Results 326-350 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed November 9, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 9, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 9 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632

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