[citation needed] In 1969, Oehler, now married, moved to the Los Angeles, California area to pursue a career in music.

Johnson was responsible for introducing Dale to Marvin Gaye, with whom he subsequently arranged Trouble Man (1972), which was the main title for the movie of the same name.

[citation needed] Beginning in 1975, he worked at Blue Note Records with Bobby Hutcherson, Carmen McRae and Horace Silver.

In 1978, Oehler produced and arranged the Freddie Hubbard album, Super Blue, which featured Joe Henderson, Hubert Laws, Ron Carter, Jack DeJohnette, Kenny Barron and George Benson.

During the 1990s, Oehler's credits included work on albums for Dolly Parton, Kirk Whalum, Joe Sample, Diane Schuur and Mark Whitfield (featuring Diana Krall).