Marcel Stellman

Q: When did Marcel Stellman die?

Marcel Stellman died on May 2, 2021.

Q: How old was Marcel Stellman when they died?

Marcel Stellman was 96 years old at the time of death.

Died: May 2, 2021
Age: 96 years

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About Marcel Stellman

Marcel Stellman, 96, Belgian record producer and lyricist, creator of Countdown.

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Full Biography

Marcel Leopold Stellman (15 February 1925 – 2 May 2021) was a Belgian born British record producer and lyricist. Among the many artists who recorded Stellman’s songs are Cilla Black, Petula Clark, Charles Aznavour, the Shadows, Kathy Kirby, and Tony Bennett. In the UK he is best known as the man who brought the French show Des chiffres et des lettres to the UK as Countdown. His pseudonyms as a lyricist include Gene Martyn and Leo Johns.

Stellman was born in Antwerp, Belgium, one of 11 children. His mother, Lily, was Scottish and his father, Willy Stellman, was a Belgian Jew. In 1938, his father took him to his uncle Leopold’s jazz club, where he saw Louis Armstrong perform.

His father died of natural causes when he was young and five of his siblings were killed in Nazi death camps. However, his mother, who was Scottish, escaped the German invasion of Belgium in 1940 with the 14-year-old Marcel and settled in Glasgow.

Stellman's long association with the BBC began in the 1940s and 50s when he presented schools and children's radio programming. In the 1960s he worked on a television series for children featuring Pinky and Perky, two singing puppet pigs. In the 1980s he stood in for Alan Dell, presenting 'Sounds Easy' on BBC Radio 2.

He died on 2 May 2021 at the age of 96. The episode of Countdown broadcast on 4 May 2021 was dedicated to him.^{[citation needed]}

Stellman won an Ivor Novello Award for the lyrics he wrote for the Shadows instrumental "Dance On!", which was a hit for Kathy Kirby in 1963. He also wrote the English lyrics to the songs Tulips from Amsterdam and Marmor, Stein und Eisen bricht (Marble Breaks and Iron Bends).

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15 Verified Trivia Questions About Marcel Stellman

Every question below is stored in the archive and checked against Marcel Stellman's record and biography. The correct answer and the reasoning behind it are given with each question.

1.How many of Marcel Leopold Stellman's siblings were killed in Nazi death camps?
- A.5Correct
- B.3
- C.7
- D.1
Five of Marcel Stellman's siblings were killed in Nazi death camps.
Source: early life section
2.What was the date of birth of Marcel Leopold Stellman?
- A.15 February 1925Correct
- B.2 May 1940
- C.15 February 1938
- D.2 May 1925
Marcel Leopold Stellman was born on 15 February 1925.
Source: biographical introduction
3.In which city was Marcel Leopold Stellman born?
- A.AntwerpCorrect
- B.Brussels
- C.London
- D.Glasgow
Marcel Stellman was born in Antwerp, Belgium.
Source: early life section
4.How many siblings did Marcel Leopold Stellman have?
- A.7
- B.11Correct
- C.5
- D.14
Marcel Stellman was one of 11 children born to his parents.
Source: early life section
5.Which famous jazz musician did Marcel Leopold Stellman see perform in 1938?
- A.Louis ArmstrongCorrect
- B.Miles Davis
- C.Duke Ellington
- D.Benny Goodman
In 1938, Marcel Stellman's father took him to his uncle Leopold’s jazz club, where he saw Louis Armstrong perform.
Source: early life section
6.To which city did Marcel Leopold Stellman escape with his mother in 1940?
- A.Edinburgh
- B.Manchester
- C.GlasgowCorrect
- D.London
After escaping the German invasion of Belgium in 1940, Marcel Stellman settled in Glasgow with his mother.
Source: early life section
7.What was the name of Marcel Leopold Stellman's mother?
- A.Catherine
- B.Margaret
- C.Rose
- D.LilyCorrect
Marcel Stellman's mother was named Lily.
Source: early life section
8.For which television show is Marcel Leopold Stellman best known in the UK?
- A.Sounds Easy
- B.Des chiffres et des lettres
- C.Pinky and Perky
- D.CountdownCorrect
In the UK, Marcel Stellman is best known as the man who brought the French show Des chiffres et des lettres to the UK as Countdown.
Source: career section
9.What pseudonyms did Marcel Leopold Stellman use as a lyricist?
- A.Alan Dell and Willy Stellman
- B.Leopold and Marcel
- C.Gene Martyn and Leo JohnsCorrect
- D.Pinky and Perky
Marcel Stellman used the pseudonyms Gene Martyn and Leo Johns for his work as a lyricist.
Source: career section
10.Which award did Marcel Leopold Stellman win for his lyrics to the song 'Dance On!'?
- A.Ivor Novello AwardCorrect
- B.BAFTA Award
- C.Mercury Prize
- D.Grammy Award
Marcel Stellman won an Ivor Novello Award for the lyrics he wrote for the Shadows instrumental 'Dance On!'
Source: awards section
11.Which television show featured singing puppet pigs in the 1960s, which Marcel Leopold Stellman worked on?
- A.Pinky and PerkyCorrect
- B.Dance On!
- C.Sounds Easy
- D.Countdown
In the 1960s, Marcel Stellman worked on a television series featuring Pinky and Perky, two singing puppet pigs.
Source: career section
12.What is the English title of the song known as 'Marmor, Stein und Eisen bricht' for which Marcel Leopold Stellman wrote lyrics?
- A.Dance On!
- B.Marble Breaks and Iron BendsCorrect
- C.Tulips from Amsterdam
- D.Sounds Easy
Marcel Stellman wrote the English lyrics to the song Marmor, Stein und Eisen bricht, known as Marble Breaks and Iron Bends.
Source: career section
13.At what age did Marcel Leopold Stellman pass away?
- A.90
- B.96Correct
- C.99
- D.86
Marcel Stellman died on 2 May 2021 at the age of 96.
Source: death section
14.What tribute did the show Countdown pay to Marcel Leopold Stellman after his death?
- A.They dedicated the episode broadcast on 4 May 2021 to himCorrect
- B.They invited his family to host the show
- C.They aired a documentary about his life
- D.They renamed the show in his honor
The episode of Countdown broadcast on 4 May 2021 was dedicated to Marcel Stellman.
Source: death section
15.Which radio program did Marcel Leopold Stellman present in the 1980s while standing in for Alan Dell?
- A.BBC Schools
- B.Jazz Club
- C.Children's Radio
- D.Sounds EasyCorrect
In the 1980s, Marcel Stellman presented 'Sounds Easy' on BBC Radio 2 as a stand-in for Alan Dell.
Source: career section