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It was a wonderful time in the life of Dawn Day, when her mother played her favorite music and Dawn sang along. Fortunately, one of those artists Dawn loved was Karen Carpenter, and now Dawn is fast becoming recognized as the best Karen Carpenter tribute act in the world.

Dawn was born in St. Louis, Missouri; a true Midwest girl who doesn’t know a stranger. Early on she knew that music and singing would play an important part in her life. Her mother was always an inspiration to her and introduced her to many great classic songs and singers. Dawn has always been a natural at singing and never had a voice lesson a gift she attributes to God and good genes. She often tells people that her family should have had a group act, because “everyone of us can sing well.”

She perfected her craft singing in church where gospel and hymns laid the foundation for many of her vocal skills today. After graduating from the Visual and Performing Arts High School she attended college for musical theatre. Her love of stage, theatre, and music continued as she performed her first professional role as “Liat” in the musical, South Pacific at the Good Times Dinner Theatre in Fairview Heights, Illinois. In 1986, Dawn won the title of Miss St. Louis and was in the top ten at the Miss Missouri Pageant.

Dawn started singing in bands at the age of 18, and has been going strong ever since. She has performed for just about every type of event and venue you can think of, and says she could write a book of all her experiences on the stage. She has made a career of performing consistently for many years playing numerous corporate events, casinos, wineries, restaurants, performing arts centers, weddings, receptions, etc. etc. She can take you from show tunes, jazz standards, country, pop, and top forty with ease.

Her wide vocal range and variety have made her one of the most versatile and sought out female singers in the St. Louis area. She also travels throughout the country wherever and whenever she is called to sing. Her band mates have told her over the years, that she is the hardest working female singer they know. There is not a musical genre that she cannot do. She is often called to sing the National Anthem for the St. Louis Blues Hockey Organization. She still has a great love of theatre and has shared the stage many times with her children.

When she performs, people always tell her that they thought they were listening to the radio, because she sounds so much like several singers, in particular, Karen Carpenter. On a fluke, she decided to see what a professional thought about her ability, and they agreed. Now, she has added tribute artist to her credits. She made her debut last July at the Riverwind Casino in Oklahoma for a sold out tribute show of the legendary Karen Carpenter where she received two standing ovations. Since that time bookings have been steadily coming in. Little did she know that when she was listening and singing along to her mother’s Carpenter albums as a child she would have the honor and privilege of carrying on and reintroducing these timeless classics to audiences today.