Dave Lambert

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David Alden Lambert (June 19, 1917 - October 3, 1966), was a jazz lyricist, singer, and an originator of vocalese. He was best known as a member of the trio Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. Lambert spent a lifetime experimenting with the human voice, and expanding the possibilities of its use within jazz.

Lambert's band debut was with Johnny Long's Orchestra in the early 1940s. Along with early partner Buddy Stewart, he successfully brought singing into modern jazz (concurrently with Ella Fitzgerald). Early multi-voiced efforts, like his Dave Lambert Singers session for Capitol, and the Charlie Parker With Voices date, met with little positive response. In the late 1950s Lambert teamed with wordsmith, and vocalese pioneer Jon Hendricks. The two later joined with vocal great Annie Ross, and the lineup was a hit.

After Ross left the group in 1962, Lambert and Hendricks went on without her by using various replacements, but the chemistry was gone. The partnership ended in 1964.

Dave Lambert was killed in 1966 when while changing a wheel on his car, he was hit by a reversing lorry.