LifeNotes: The Time Jumpers' Dawn Sears

Dawn Sears, 53, vocalist and member of Rounder Record’s four-time Grammy-nominated band The Time Jumpers, died Thursday night, Dec. 11. Diagnosed with lung cancer in February 2012, Sears fought the disease and championed efforts for lung cancer research.
In addition to having been a Time Jumper,  she was also a long-time member of Vince Gill’s touring band. She contributed vocals to several of Gill’s albums, including I Still Believe in You and Next Big Thing. In the mid-’90s, Sears became the first act signed to Decca Records’ relaunched country outpost. Prior to that, Sears released three singles with Warner Bros. Records, after signing with the label in 1991.
She is survived by her husband, the fiddler and fellow Time Jumper Kenny Sears and daughter Tess. Funeral arrangements are pending.
Recently, the Dawn Sears & Friends Benefit for Lung Cancer Research, held Nov. 30 in Gallatin, Tenn., raised more than $100,000 for the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Reba, Riders in the Sky and The Time Jumpers were among the performers at the event.