Pasquale Troise (1895 – 1957) was born in Naples in 1895. He came to Great Britan during the 1920, first as a member of the London Radio Dance Band, but soon founded his own orchestra, the Selecta Plectrum Mandoline Orchestra, which was later renamed to Troise and his Mandoliers. When the banjo became more popular than the mandolin (mainly because it was louder) the orchestra replaced the mandolins by banjos and played as Troise and his Banjoliers. The orchestra existed from the 1930s until 1957 directed by Troise, and continued until the early 1970s then conducted by Jack Mandel.
The orchestra did regularly appear in a radio broadcast named “Music while you work”. The history of Troise and his Mandoliers can be found on the website Masters of Melody. There you can also listen to two complete recordings of the broadcasts from 1956 and 1964. It is also interesting to read that some important classical mandolin players including Hugo d’Alton played with Troise and his Mandoliers.
Their personnel changed very little over the years — classical mandoline player Hugo D’Alton, Billy Bell and Terry Walsh were all there to ensure stability, with accordionist Emile Charlier or Albert Delroy and pianists such as William Davies and Sidney Davey.
Many recordings and also movies (filmed by British Pathe between 1932 and 1940 ) with Troise and his Mandoliers are also available at youtube, I have compiled everything that I have found in the following playlist:
Playlist Troise and his Mandoliers
Additional Information
Website about Troise and his Banjoliers
Wikipedia about “Music while you work”
Discussion in the Mandolin Cafe about Troise and the Mandoliers
Wikipedia about Angy Palumbo who was a member of Troise and hia Mandoliers
Palumbo was a specialist of various fretted instruments, and his advertisements in the trade journal B.M.G. shows that he taught guitar as well as banjo, mandolin and violin playing.[1] He himself also played several of these instruments as a member of “Troise and his Mandoliers”, a band led by fellow Italian immigrant Pasqual Troise (1895–1957). This band recorded frequently and also made regular radio appearances.[2]
The Wikipedia article contains a link to a PDF version of an interesting article about Angy Palumbo by the B. M. G.
German article about Troise and his Mandoliers
Troise And His Mandoliers – 78 RPM – Discography
Written by Brian on The Tommy Douse Mandoliers were formed in 1940 and entertained audiences in and around the North East of England until 1980.
Article about Bernard Sheaff on the zitherbanjo website
During the 40’s and early 50s Mr. Sheaff’s main occupation was composing and arranging for professional fretted instrument bands; in particular, Troise and His Mandoliers (and Banjoliers), the Troise Novelty Orchestra, the Serenaders, etc.