I liked Mantovani ~ great noise. I recall a London Univ Ball I was taken to in mid-50s where his band were playing most enjoyably.

As to whether he was "folk" or not: depends if you speak Mudcatese {"Folk means what I say it does not what you say it does"}, or some other language with its own definition [scroll thru all the 100+ definition threads & take your pick].

The fact that he and his string players once issued a record for the light-music market consisting of a couple of dozen familiar & popular "folk" tunes (Frere·Jacques, Hava·Nagila, Annie·Laurie), doesn't seem to me to prove anything much either way, Sean.

~Michael~