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(Photo: BGEA)Beloved gospel singer George Beverly Shea, 104, of Montreat, N.C., soloist of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, died Tuesday evening following a brief illness.Graham's senior by ten years, Shea was a mainstay as the worship singer with a deep voice, who preceding the famous evangelist in song for every crusade for 60 years. (Photo: BGEA) "Bev was one of the most humble, gracious men I have ever known and one of my closest friends," said Graham in a statement released by the BGEA. "I loved him as a brother. My prayer for his wife, Karlene, and his children, Ron...

<p>George Beverly Shea, the booming baritone who sang to millions of Christians at evangelist Billy Graham's crusades, died Tuesday after a brief illness. He was 104.</p> <p>Spokesman Brent Rinehart of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association said Shea died in Asheville after a brief illness.</p>

The Recording Academy recently announced that gospel recording artist George Beverly Shea, a longtime Billy Graham Crusade soloist, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2011 Grammy Week in February. The Grammy Award winner mirthfully told The Christian Post, “I was surprised at this recognition and so grateful at my age 102. It almost broke me up.” Shea is among one of the oldest living persons to be honored at the Grammy’s. He reflected on his 80 years in the music industry and how being a gospel singer was not his original plan for life. He shared,...

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....