Click the Pix For Music Recent Picture of George Beverly Shea |
Please Click the Picture of Mr. Shea or the Cross or Praying Hands Graphics to hear Mr. Shea Sing
(A Combined Effort by Uncleshag and Fiddlstix
Posted on 02/01/2006 5:34:06 PM PST by lunarbicep
George Beverly Shea Profile
"I've been listening to Bev Shea sing for more than 50 years, and I would still rather hear him sing than anyone else I know." -- Billy Graham
Since George Beverly Shea first sang for Billy Graham on the Chicago radio hymn program, "Songs in the Night," in 1943, he has carried the Gospel in song to every continent and every state in the Union. He is the recipient of ten Grammy nominations, one Grammy Award (1965) and is a member of the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame (1978).
As the musical mainstay in Mr. Graham's crusades, Bev Shea is often called "America's Beloved Gospel Singer." However, he cannot be claimed by any one country--a Canadian by birth, he is a favorite of people in many nations.
Born in Winchester, Ontario, February 1, 1909, where his father was a Wesleyan Methodist minister, Mr. Shea's first public singing was in the choir of his father's church. Later, he sang with the Houghton (N.Y.) College Glee Club.
Through the years, Mr. Shea has been one of the busiest men on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Team. Between crusade, radio, and television dates in many countries, he has sung hundreds of concerts and recorded more than 70 albums of sacred music--including nine CDs.
Every hymn he sings is a testimony to the saving power of Jesus Christ and to Shea's faith in Him. He is a noteworthy composer, and the songs he has written incorporate the same message. He composed the music at age 23 to one of his best-known solos, "I'd Rather Have Jesus," to words by Mrs. Rhea H. Miller. The poem had been left on the family piano by Shea's mother, and after reading the words he sat at the piano and composed the tune. He also wrote "The Wonder of It All," "Sing Me A Song of Sharon's Rose," and "I Love Thy Presence, Lord." His most recent CD, entitled "Out In The Country," was released by Homeland Records.
Mr. Shea has utilized all available media to share the "Good News" of Jesus Christ. From 1952, he was heard regularly on network radio, and in more recent years his bass-baritone voice has been transmitted on weekly shortwave programs around the world.
Mr. Shea's network radio singing started on "Club Time," a program carried for more than eight years on ABC, the Armed Forces network, and many independent stations. When Billy Graham, then pastor of the Village Church in Western Springs, Illinois, took over the "Songs in the Night" radio program on Chicago's WCFL in 1943, he recalled hearing Shea's radio singing and enlisted him to help with the broadcast.
That was the beginning of a long association between Mr. Graham and Mr. Shea. In 1947 Shea went to Graham's hometown, Charlotte, N.C., to sing in the first of Mr. Graham's city-wide crusades.
The fledgling evangelistic team worked together in several other crusades, and in 1949 the famous Los Angeles tent meetings catapulted Mr. Graham and his associates to national attention. From there, the team went on to share the Gospel on every continent.
Because of Mr. Shea's weekly singing on the "Hour of Decision" radio broadcast since 1950 and his numerous personal appearances, his voice is recognized now in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America, and throughout North America.
Since the beginning of Mr. Graham's crusade ministry, Shea and Cliff Barrows have been the nucleus of the crusade musical team. Barrows is choir director, platform emcee, and radio-television program director. They were joined in 1950 by pianist Tedd Smith, and through the years, organists Don Hustad and John Innes have provided additional accompaniment.
Mr. Shea is noted for the simplicity of his faith and testimony. To him, compromise is unthinkable. All his life and work is aimed at telling "of the Christ who died for me." A man of deep sympathies, he will listen endlessly to the troubles of others but dismiss his own with a word and a smile.
For his significant contributions to Gospel music, he was inducted into the Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame (NRB) in February 1996. As a special honor, in 1998 the North Carolina Public Television Station produced Mr. Shea's life story, "The Wonder of it All," titled after one of his most popular gospel songs.
Mr. Shea and his wife, Karlene, make their home in North Carolina.
Thanks for posting this.
97...wow, his voice has surely aged well.
Shea is a graduate of Houghton College.
BTW, Houghton College was the first school to award Billy Graham with an honorary doctorate. (as well as Ravi Zacharias)
houghton college....my alma mater...a great place...
Wow! 97 and still putting out CD's. Gives Mick Jager something to shoot for.
I'd Rather Have Jesus
Click above for a blessing.
Thank you for this post....I have always loved this guy, no one can sing "How Great Thou Art" like this man. What a blessing he has been to those who hear him sing.
Wow, did that ever take me back. My mom played his records, and yes, they were records back then, every Sunday morning while we were getting ready for church. Thanks, listening to that was indeed a blessing.
Thank you for linking that. I just got back from our home church meeting and that was a great way to end the night.
God bless him. I remember hearing GBS sing at a Billy Graham crusade many, many moons ago.
Back in 1995 Billy Graham came to Cleveland Municipal Stadium for a crusade before they tore it down. I was a member of the choir and have the most wonderful memory (one I'll never forget) of Mr. Shea practicing with our choir!
LTNS! Good to see you online.
&
Thanks for the Ping J
Mr. Shea is one of the true Greats. May God Bless Him!
Great tune you posted too J
Right now, and FiddlStix, as you were the first or one of the first to post music in FR, you know, the technology is here to spread the Good News to all corners of the Earth.
As I follow your lead, FiddlStix, I follow the lead of the Graham team and I can be sure that they would want this song shared as they have shared the gospel.
Join me right here on FR in the Bloggers and Personals for the Longtown Podcasts. Every Sunday Morning I post a new Sunday Podcast of inspirational and gospel music for young and older. These shows are always up so one can listen anytime.
Weekday shows are a variety of Comedy, Music and News.
BTW: My 85 years young Mama listens to the shows.
-unc.
Bev Shea is one of my heroes and a great Christian inspiration. God bless him!
| Click the Pix For Music Recent Picture of George Beverly Shea |
Thank you, Fiddlstix for a simple, beautiful presentation.
Fitting for a man who sings of the Man.
Fiddlstix, have you thought of emailing Rev Graham this link so Mr.Shea could enjoy it too? I believe Unc has the address.
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