After high school, he attended Louisiana State University but refused to comply with a sports requirement and dropped out after a year.
[7] As a pianist he recorded jazz standards with the Honky Tonkers, and an album featuring his solo playing, Piano Memories, was also issued in 1958.
In 1959, with record producer Bob Crewe, Davie arranged Santo & Johnny's instrumental hit "Sleep Walk".
[5] He was the arranger on the original Bob Crewe Generation hit recording of "Music to Watch Girls By" in 1967, for which he was nominated for a Grammy.
[5] He also worked with Oliver on the songs "Good Morning Starshine" and "Jean", The Shirelles, and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, among many others.