While pursuing an academic course at Harvard University, he studied singing under T. L. Cushman in Boston from 1904 to 1908. He graduated from Harvard in 1908 with his younger brother, Ray D. Murphy (1887–1964) (future chairman of the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States 19xx-1952), where they were both in the Harvard Glee Club, Harvard Quartet and the Pi Eta Society.
He was a popular recording artist for the Victor Talking Machine Company. One well-known recorded hit was "Smiles" from The Passing Show of 1918 and was popular during World War I. Lambert performed and recorded many duets with baritone Reinald Werrenrath. Mr. Murphy premiered in the tenor solo role in the quartets in Verdi'sRequiem in Boston (year?). After retiring from active concert work, he gave private voice instruction. During World War II he was a product inspector for the Western Electric Company.
Lambert married Margaret Fraser. They had no children. They resided in Keene and Munsonville, New Hampshire, enjoying the outdoors, in particular, hunting and fishing.