Steffani's
Silver Songsters
and other associated boys' choirs
Welcome to the only website dedicated exclusively to Arturo Steffani and the boys who sang in his professional choirs between 1934 and 1948. Most of the lads were from working class backgrounds and were aged between 12 and 16. They travelled throughout the United Kingdom appearing in the variety theatres and their repertoire included everything from opera to popular songs. 
In 1934, after performing as pianist & singer Fred Northcote in the Tom Moss revue 'Hello Beautiful', Frederick William Wisker changed his stage name to Arturo Steffani and formed his first choir, The Sixteen Singing Scholars, (seen right). Within their first few months the boys had recorded for Decca, made BBC radio broadcasts and sung 'Love's Old Sweet Song' on a short Pathe Pictorial film, as well as making weekly appearances throughout England and Scotland on the Moss Empires theatre circuit.
Steffani first presented his Silver Songsters, in July 1935, incorporating most of his Singing Scholars with a few new faces. This was to be the most popular and successful of all his choirs. 
Much of their time was spent touring the United Kingdom the weekly theatre circuit appearing on variety bills and in revues, many of which were produced by Steffani himself. At the end of each year came the pantomime season, when the lads were often split into two or three groups and so the name of Steffani's Silver Songsters appeared on the credits of two or more pantomimes in different locations at the same time. The highlights of the Silver Songsters choir were probably their five week Scandinavian tour in early 1939 and their inclusion in the sixteen week summer show 'We're All In It' at the Blackpool Opera House in 1943. Their last show was in March 1948, but some of their numerous recordings can still be heard today on a C.D. produced by Evergreen magazine. (Telephone sales: 01242 515156 or write to Evergreen, P.O. Box 52, Cheltenham, Glos. GL50 1YQ).
Steffani's Harlem Pages were the United Kingdom's only choir of black boys. They toured between 1936 and 1938. Most came from Cardiff, including Laurie Deniz who went on to play guitar with The Ray Ellington Quartet.
Steffani's Abbey Singers were formed in 1937 to tour with Florrie Forde in her revue 'Swing is King'. At the end of the year Florrie gave up touring and the boys were disbanded. Some were successful in auditioning for the Silver Songsters. Other pre WW2 groups included Steffani's Melody Makers and The Harmonichords.
Please use the links at the top of this page to learn more about Steffani's boys. We would love to hear from anyone who was employed by Steffani, or from anybody who can remember his choirs. If you require further information and/or have any comments about this site, please click on 'CONTACT US' at the top of this page.
You have been listening to Steffani's Silver Songsters. "A Day with the Army" was recorded 18th May 1940 on REX 9833.
Welcome to the only website dedicated exclusively to Arturo Steffani and the boys who sang in his professional choirs between 1934 and 1948. Most of the lads were from working class backgrounds and were aged between 12 and 16. They travelled throughout the United Kingdom appearing in the variety theatres and their repertoire included everything from opera to popular songs. In 1934, after performing as pianist & singer Fred Northcote in the Tom Moss revue 'Hello Beautiful', Frederick William Wisker changed his stage name to Arturo Steffani and formed his first choir, The Sixteen Singing Scholars, (seen right). Within their first few months the boys had recorded for Decca, made BBC radio broadcasts and sung 'Love's Old Sweet Song' on a short Pathe Pictorial film, as well as making weekly appearances throughout England and Scotland on the Moss Empires theatre circuit. Steffani first presented his Silver Songsters, in July 1935, incorporating most of his Singing Scholars with a few new faces. This was to be the most popular and successful of all his choirs. Steffani's Harlem Pages were the United Kingdom's only choir of black boys. They toured between 1936 and 1938. Most came from Cardiff, including Laurie Deniz who went on to play guitar with The Ray Ellington Quartet. Steffani's Abbey Singers were formed in 1937 to tour with Florrie Forde in her revue 'Swing is King'. At the end of the year Florrie gave up touring and the boys were disbanded. Some were successful in auditioning for the Silver Songsters. Other pre WW2 groups included Steffani's Melody Makers and The Harmonichords. Please use the links at the top of this page to learn more about Steffani's boys. We would love to hear from anyone who was employed by Steffani, or from anybody who can remember his choirs. If you require further information and/or have any comments about this site, please click on 'CONTACT US' at the top of this page. You have been listening to Steffani's Silver Songsters. "A Day with the Army" was recorded 18th May 1940 on REX 9833. Much of their time was spent touring the United Kingdom the weekly theatre circuit appearing on variety bills and in revues, many of which were produced by Steffani himself. At the end of each year came the pantomime season, when the lads were often split into two or three groups and so the name of Steffani's Silver Songsters appeared on the credits of two or more pantomimes in different locations at the same time. The highlights of the Silver Songsters choir were probably their five week Scandinavian tour in early 1939 and their inclusion in the sixteen week summer show 'We're All In It' at the Blackpool Opera House in 1943. Their last show was in March 1948, but some of their numerous recordings can still be heard today on a C.D. produced by Evergreen magazine. (Telephone sales: 01242 515156 or write to Evergreen, P.O. Box 52, Cheltenham, Glos. GL50 1YQ).
