Nottingham outfit DAWNTRADER act emanated from the earlier band SCREW, featuring vocalist Mick Preston, guitarist Chris Allard and drummer Keith White. SCREW split in 1979 with Preston, Allard and White forming DAWN TRADER alongside bassist Ric Evans, a veteran of LAZY and SPOONFUL. Within a month guitarist Wayne Vizard was added.

Having supported KROKUS, MAGNUM, ANGEL WITCH and DEF LEPPARD, Allard left to pursue a career in London shortly after the limited edition demo single was issued, being replaced by ex LIMELIGHT man Steve Humphreys.

Humphreys himself was superseded by ex-NOEL REDDING and TRISTRAM SHANDY man Andy Kealey and DAWN TRADER would wind up releasing two commercially available demos on local Way Ahead Records. Further band changes abounded when White and Kealey quit to form Blues act ABK, White's position being filled by former SAVAGE drummer Dave Lindley. Progress was hindered however when DAWN TRADER's career was adversely affected when their co-manager, Radio Trent DJ Graham Neal, was involved in a tragedy. Neal murdered his girlfriend then hung himself.

The group would perform their last gig with Preston at Nottingham's Rock City venue at 22nd December 1982, which included a guest appearance from WHITESNAKE guitarist BERNIE MARSDEN. The line-up at this juncture involved singer Mick Preston, guitarists Wayne Vizard and Andy Kealey, bass player Ric Evans and drummer Keith White. DAWN TRADER actually recorded tracks with Marsden at Britannia Row studios but these remain unreleased.

Mick Preston was replaced by vocalist Mac as DAWN TRADER soldiered on for about ten months, adding keyboard player Dave Langdon along the way, whilst Preston himself joined BAD REPUTATION. With the band's demise, Evans joined FIRE BRIGADE the tribute band FREE AND COMPANY.

In later years Mick Preston, Wayne Vizard and Dave Lindley formed covers band CARNABY STREET. Ric Evans joined ex-WITCHFYNDE singer Luther Beltz in KRUSADE.