He was a child prodigy, raised on a sugar cane plantation, and a direct descendant of John Papa ʻĪʻī, personal attendant to Lunalilo.

Versatile with a variety of vocal forms, and a multi-linguist, he sang the music of Cole Porter at the Hollywood Bowl, and presented a concert in honor of Kamehameha Day at Carnegie Hall.

He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts, and was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.

Rose Davis was known for hosting expansive luaus that drew hundreds of guests, among whom were that era's popular Hawaiian entertainers.

[4][5] Robert Cazimero described Davis' personal character as, "Charlie's from that time when people were kinder, gentler – who believed in the aloha spirit and shared everything with everyone.

[7] Before leaving for California, he made a June 7 appearance on radio station KGMB's 15-minute weekly show The Musical Voice of Young Hawaii.

[12] Davis switched his vocal range to tenor, and in 1953 made his debut performance at the Hollywood Bowl, as part of an evening of the music of Cole Porter.

[19] As part of an ensemble at a 1967 White House concert given in honor of Turkish president Cevdet Sunay, Davis sang the role of protagonist Prince Caprice in the Opera Company of Boston's presentation of the Jacques Offenbach operetta Voyage to the Moon.

[23] Davis moved away from opera performances and began to entertain in local clubs, such as the Waikiki venues of the Rhumba Line and the Halekulani, as well as numerous appearances on the Hawaii Calls radio broadcasts.