One more notable death, but more lighthearted: Zez Confrey, November 22, 1971

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Sat Dec 12, 2020, 11:18 PM - Edit history (3)

Zez Confrey



The sheet music for "Dizzy Fingers".

Edward Elzear "Zez" Confrey (April 3, 1895 – November 22, 1971) was an American composer and performer of novelty piano and jazz music. His most noted works were "Kitten on the Keys" and "Dizzy Fingers."

You know the tune. You just never knew its name.

This reminds me of my favorite YouTube video, which is also one of Liberace. This is so over the top. If this doesn't bring a smile to your face, nothing will.

And-a now, here's-a something for the a-young-a folks {it's no longer available}:

Try this instead:

Myron Floren on accordion - "Dizzy Fingers"
1,558 views•Aug 21, 2020

Lawrence Welk Show Fans


Lawrence Welk Show 1981 - "Backstage with our musical family"

I'll bet Roy Clark performed this somewhere along the line, but I can't find a video.

[Grasswire2]

1. thank you!

Of course Confrey also composed "Kitten On The Keys" and many many other innovative and complex pieces.

Here's a complete review of his work, from my friend Bill Edwards (authority on the genre).

[link:http://www.perfessorbill.com/comps/econfrey.shtml|

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. Oooooh, I will get to this.

I have those old Nonesuch Joshua Rifkin albums of Scott Joplin from the '70s.

[Grasswire2]

3. :-)

I love those recordings. Rifkin was the gold standard. No fritzing around with Joplin's purity and genius as many others do.

If I may suggest something: Look up the album on you tube by Max Morath's Quartet. Piano and stringed instruments. It is gorgeous. Link to one piece below.

[link:http://

|

Still sparkling. Whew. Blows me away after all these years.

Joplin's "Real Slow Drag" from his opera "Tremonisha" is particularly beautiful done by the Quartet. My daughter used that as her wedding processional.

[Grasswire2]

4. By the way...

Bill Edwards' site is massive -- a life's work researching, recording, compiling so much music from the turn of the previous century. A fabulous resource.