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 426-450 of 607 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick E32725 10-in. Apr. 1930 Just like in a story book Bob Haring Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32739 10-in. May 1930 Alice in Wonderland Anglo-Persians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32749 10-in. May 1930 Waiting for you Castlewood Marimba Band Marimba band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32750 10-in. May 1930 My heart belongs to the girl who belongs to somebody else Castlewood Marimba Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32751 10-in. May 1930 A night of love in Hawaii Castlewood Marimba Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32753 10-in. May 1930 Dancing with tears in my eyes Regent Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32833 10-in. May 1930 Dark night Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E32834 10-in. May 1930 Into my heart Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E33290 10-in. June 1930 I am only human after all Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E33291 10-in. June 1930 With my guitar and you Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E33364 10-in. July 1930 Exploitation record [for] Warner Brothers’ Silver Anniversary Norman Brokenshire ; Brunswick Studio Orchestra ; Scrappy Lambert Orchestra; male vocal solo; announcement vocalist  
Brunswick E34398 10-in. September 1930 Just a little while Brunswick Studio Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E34405 10-in. September 1930 Sing something simple Jacques Renard Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E34407 10-in. 9/15/1930 Beyond the blue horizon Phil Spitalny's Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E34408 10-in. 9/15/1930 Maybe it’s love Phil Spitalny's Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E35027 10-in. Oct. 1930 I am only the words, you are the melody Brunswick Studio Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E35028 10-in. Oct. 1930 Ukulele moon Brunswick Studio Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E35343 10-in. 11/7/1930 And then your lips met mine Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E35344 10-in. 11/7/1930 Overnight Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E35365 10-in. Nov. 1930 I love love Emil Coleman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E35740 10-in. 12/12/1930 What good am I without you? The Captivators [Red Nichols Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E35943 10-in. 1/21/1931 It’s a lonesome old town (When you’re not around) Art Kahn Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E36068 10-in. 2/13/1931 Walkin’ my baby back home Detroiters ; Milt Shaw Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E36069 10-in. 2/13/1931 I’ve found what I wanted in you Detroiters ; Milt Shaw Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
Brunswick E36070 10-in. 2/13/1931 Running between the rain-drops Detroiters ; Milt Shaw Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist  
(Results 426-450 of 607 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Lambert, Scrappy," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

Lambert, Scrappy. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/109632.

"Lambert, Scrappy." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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