[1] He is best known for his long-standing work with Prince and has contributed to albums by Etta James, Billy Idol, BoDeans, Buddy Guy, and Neneh Cherry.

[2] He produced Fine Young Cannibals' "She Drives Me Crazy" (1988), creating the song's signature snare drum sound.

His youngest brother Bobby Z. was the original drummer in Prince's band The Revolution whilst his middle brother Stephen E. Rivkin is notable for his work as a film editor, particularly as editor of the Pirates Of The Caribbean trilogy of films and Avatar.

His early work is perhaps most known over this period in his writing contributions for Gram Parsons' first solo LP GP, particularly the track 'How Much I've Lied', before going on to play a major role in establishing not only the Minneapolis sound but through his innovative use of drum machines, loops, and samples much of production aesthetic now synonymous with music from the 1980s.

Aside from his early work with Prince on Purple Rain and Under The Cherry Moon, David Z's work can be heard on the 1996 John Travolta film Michael directed by Nora Ephron, where he produced songs by Al Green and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.