Dawn Sears

Dawn Sears (born Dawn Marie Skari; December 7, 1961 – December 11, 2014) was an American country music singer. In addition to her work as a backing vocalist in Vince Gill's band, she recorded four solo studio albums, of which two were released on major labels. She had one single that charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts.

Dawn Marie Skari was born in East Grand Forks, Minnesota. She began her career in 1990 with the album What a Woman Wants to Hear on Warner Bros. Records. The album produced two minor singles. Because of her debut album's poor performance, Sears had decided to leave the country music scene. However, she later received a call from Vince Gill, who had asked her to join his road band as a harmony vocalist. According to information provided by Thomas "Duke" Miller, a TV/movie/celebrity expert, in 1994 Sears was also known for her song "Another Dream Away", which became a hit theme song for the newer Bandit (film series) four television miniseries movies starring Brian Bloom, Sears is also featured in the opening title sequence performing the song playing her guitar, at the end, Sears is seen picking up her guitar case and suitcase as she prepares to walk the side of a country road hoping to hitch a ride. The four television miniseries movies served as a reboot set to cash in on the still ever popular Smokey and the Bandit (franchise).

In addition to singing harmony on Gill's 1992 album I Still Believe in You, Sears provided duet vocals on the track "An Out of Control Raging Fire" on Tracy Byrd's 1994 debut album. In 1994, she was signed as the first act on Decca Records' newly revived country music branch. Her second album, 1994's Nothin' But Good, was issued on Decca, and its lead-off single, "Runaway Train", entered the country music charts. Other singles from the album were unsuccessful, and Dawn exited Decca's roster not long afterward. A self-titled album was released independently in 2002, followed by her first Christmas album. Sears returned to her work as a backup vocalist for Gill. She made appearances on several of Gill's albums, including his 2003 album Next Big Thing. Sears also performed with The Time Jumpers.

In February 2012, Sears was diagnosed with lung cancer, which was diagnosed as Stage 3B in March 2013. She died in Gallatin, Tennessee on December 11, 2014, aged 53. Sears was married to Kenny Sears (a Time Jumpers bandmate), and had a daughter, Tess Sears (also known professionally as Tesla Dawn).