Mr. Davis' career suffered after he unsuccessfully sued the New York Philharmonic over what he contended were its racist hiring prctices. As the calls stopped coming for jazz gigs, Davis changed career direction and earned a doctorate in psychology from NYU. He worked both as a psychologist and bassist for many years.
In an obituary by Jocelyn Stewart published in the L.A. Times, it was noted that Davis' protest against racism in the music industry led to the adoption of the blind audition" where only the musician's ability determined his or her job qualification.Davis was 73 years old.
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