After college Garvey played with the Philadelphia Symphony and Columbus Philharmonic as well as with dance band that played pop-styled classics led by violinist Jan Savitt, "The Stokowski of Swing".
After college Garvey played with the Philadelphia Symphony and Columbus Philharmonic. In March 1943, Garvey joined a dance band that played pop-styled classical music led by a classically-trained violinist named Jan Savitt, "The Stokowski of Swing".