Garry Dial, co-leader of Dial & Oatts, first came to fame as an important modernizing force with the Red Rodney-Ira Sullivan Quintet. He began playing piano early in life and had important lessons with Mary Lou Williams. After attending Berklee, he played music in Bermuda during 1975-1978. Moving to New York, Dial worked for Duke Ellington's sister, Ruth Ellington Boatwright, going through the entire Ellington archive and putting it on tape. Soon afterward, he met Red Rodney, and a group was formed with Ira Sullivan that avoided playing bebop standards in favor of new music. After Sullivan departed and was replaced by saxophonist Dick Oatts, Dial eventually formed a group with him that recorded for DMP. Garry Dial has also recorded his own trio for Continuum and has taught at the Manhattan School of Music and the New School.