Harry Dial was one of the classic drummers of the early jazz world, his specialty keeping time behind artists known for their fun and pep. In fact, a glance at Dial's discography is something like a partial scan of the most entertaining albums of all time, because such a list would surely include sides by two guys named Louis -- Armstrong and Jordan -- as well as Fats Waller and Ella Fitzgerald. Dial was a solid, energetic drummer who pushed the beat forward without cluttering the airspace, leaving plenty of room for Waller's muttered asides or Satchmo's famous behind the beat phrasing. His use of the sock cymbal and his fat, marching band snare drum sound are often imitated. Dial also was one of the rare breed of singing drummers, the vocal side of his talents usually only exposed when he was in charge of the band. He was allowed to make comments on records with Fats Waller, the best example of which is the introduction to the upbeat "Don't Let It Bother You." Waller tells his drummer that he looks glum and asks him if there's anything wrong, to which Dial replies: "Oh man everything's wrong! My old lady done ran off with the iceman. And my daughter ran off with the undertaker. And I'm about to die and ain't got nobody to bury me!"