Albert Omega Sears, known as Al Sears, was born on February 21, 1910, in Macomb, Illinois. He began his career as a jazz tenor saxophonist and bandleader, replacing Johnny Hodges in Chick Webb's ensemble in 1928. Sears played with Elmer Snowden (1931–1932) and led his own groups between 1933 and 1941. In the early 1940s, he joined Andy Kirk (1941–1942) and Lionel Hampton (1943–1944), before becoming a member of Duke Ellington's Orchestra in 1944, replacing Ben Webster. He remained with Ellington until 1949. Sears played with Johnny Hodges in 1951–1952 and recorded "Castle Rock" with him; the tune became a hit but was released under Hodges's name. He also worked as a studio musician on R&B albums in the 1950s. He recorded albums including Grade A Dance Music with a Swing Beat on Audio Lab (1960), Swing's the Thing on Prestige (1960), and Things Ain't What They Used to Be on Swingville in 1961. Sears died on March 23, 1990.
