ZEZ CONFREY

Edward Elzear "Zez" Confrey (April 3, 1895 – November 22, 1971) was an American composer and performer of piano music. His most noted works were "Kitten on the Keys," and "Dizzy Fingers." Confrey was born in Peru, Illinois, United States, the youngest child of Thomas and Margaret Confrey. After World War I he became a pianist and arranger for the QRS piano roll company. He also recorded for the AMPICO Company, which made piano rolls for their reproducing player piano mechanisms, which were installed in pianos such as the Mason&Hamlin, and Chickering to name a few. His novelty piano composition "Kitten on the Keys," released in 1921, became a hit, and he went on to compose many other pieces in the same genre. This piece was inspired by a cat at his grandmother's house that he discovered prancing up and down the piano keyboard. "Dizzy Fingers" (1923) was Confrey's other ragtime read more...