Edward Stanelli

Edward Stanley de Groot (16 June 1894 – 12 February 1961), usually known professionally by the mononym Stanelli, or sometimes Edward Stanelli, was an Irish-born British musician, composer and comic entertainer.

Biography He was born in Dublin, into a Jewish family, and moved to Brentham Garden Suburb, Ealing, with his parents as a child. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and was awarded the James Tubbs and Sons Prize for his violin playing in 1909. He went on to the Royal College of Music, and in the First World War served in the London Scottish Regiment. He also performed in variety shows, usually as one half of a duo, Stanelli and Douglas, or Stanelli and Edgar, in which he provided comedic introductions to their musical performances. This is visible in his appearance in the 1934 film Radio Parade of 1935.

In 1935, he recorded a stag party in his own flat, and suggested to Eric Maschwitz at the BBC that an edited version be broadcast. This was done, as Stanelli's Stag Party, and led to a lengthy radio series, soon renamed Stanelli's Bachelor Party. Regular guests included Norman Long, and the two sometimes performed together as Stanelli and Long. In 1939, he fronted a further radio series, Stanelli's Crazy Cruise, another comedy variety show, in which he played the role of a ship's captain.

He appeared in and composed the soundtrack for Greek Street (1930) and The Adventures of Jane (1949). He also acted in the films Hearts of Humanity (1936), Old Mother Riley Overseas (1943), and Dear Mr. Prohack (1949), all in small bit-parts.

Stanelli became a conductor and composer, and his work Atlantis was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the Hallé Orchestra in 1946, which sometimes he conducted. In the 1950s he regularly conducted the orchestra at pantomimes in the New Theatre Oxford.

He died in Datchet, Berkshire, in 1961.