Born in Mobile, Alabama, by the early 1960s he worked in Los Angeles as a composer and conductor of film soundtracks.
[2] In the late 1950s, he wrote cues for several TV westerns, like Sugarfoot and Maverick.
Along with lyricist Roger Nichols, he also wrote the theme songs for the films High School Caesar and Date Bait.
In 1963, he composed and conducted the album Blue Martini, which featured saxophonist Plas Johnson and was released by Äva Records.
According to Neel, writing in the album's liner notes, the recording aimed for a new "arrangement form" incorporating solo improvisations and an outer orchestral "shell".