George Beverly Shea
George Beverly Shea | |
---|---|
Born | Winchester, Ontario, Canada | February 1, 1909
Died | April 16, 2013 Montreat, North Carolina, U.S. | (aged 104)
Resting place | Billy Graham Library |
Nationality | Canadian, American[1] |
Years active | 1929–2013 |
Spouses | Erma L. Scharfe
(m. 1934; died 1976)Karlene Aceto (m. 1985–2013) |
Children | 2 |
George Beverly Shea (February 1, 1909 – April 16, 2013) was a Canadian-born American[1] gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea was often described as "America's beloved gospel singer"[2] and was considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy Graham Crusades and his exposure on radio, records and television. Because of the large attendance at Graham's Crusades, it is estimated that Shea sang live before more people than anyone else in history.[3][4]
Personal life
Early life and family
George Beverly Shea was born in Winchester, Ontario, Canada, on February 1, 1909, the fourth of eight children of the Rev. Adam Joseph Shea (1872–1946),[5] a Wesleyan Methodist Church—now Wesleyan Church—minister, and his wife, Maude Mary Theodora (Whitney) Shea[6] (1881–1971).[2][5] His uncle, Isaac Shea (1865-1946) of Winchester had fought in the Second Boer War with the Royal Canadian Dragoons.
Religious background
The Shea family served at the Wesleyan Methodist church in
Shea himself said that he became a Christian at the age of five or six,[7] but made a rededication to Christ when he was 18, at the Sunnyside Wesleyan Methodist Church in Ottawa:
[T]here were times when I needed to rededicate my life to the Lord Jesus. When I was 18, my dad was pastoring a church in Ottawa, and I was feeling not too spiritual. The church was having a "special effort," as they called it, for a week. I remember that on Friday night Dad came down from the pulpit and tenderly placed his hand on my shoulder. He whispered, "I think tonight might be the night, son, when you come back to the Lord." Whatever Dad did or said, I listened to him and respected him. And, yes, that was the night!
Musical background
Shea was taught to play the violin by his father, and the piano and organ by his mother.[12] Shea's bass-baritone voice brought early recognition and provided many opportunities for him to sing in his father's church.[13] He began singing at religious meetings in the Ottawa Valley.[12]
Education
Shea attended Annesley College in Ottawa, before transferring in 1928 to
Life insurance company employment
After leaving college, Shea became a clerk in the medical department in the
Marriages and children
Shea married his childhood sweetheart,[15] Erma L. Scharfe (1908–1976)[5] on 16 June 1934.[16] Shea and Erma had two children: Ronnie and Elaine.[13][16]
Shea's children became Christians at an early age. Shea's daughter Elaine became a Christian at the age of 8 during a Billy Graham Crusade at the
On 19 December 1985 Shea married Karlene Aceto[22] (1942 -), a 1972 graduate of Montreat College,[23][24] in Montreat, North Carolina.[22] In a September 2007 interview Shea recalled how he met and married his second wife, Karlene:
It has been 20 years of bliss. I was a widower for 10 years in a suburb of Chicago and that's a long time. When we were over in Korea in 1984, Billy brought me into his room and said, 'I've been talking to Ruth, my wife,[clarification needed] in Montreat this morning on the phone and we think that 10 years is enough,' and so he mentioned Karlene's name. Mr. Graham didn't do the service. We had the pastor of our church here and he put on his nice robe and we were married in Billy's home.[25]
Shea, who became a naturalized American citizen in 1941,[26] and his wife, Karlene, who was 33 years his junior, lived in Montreat, North Carolina,[27] on the same road as Billy Graham's home.[28]
Death
A centenarian, Shea died on April 16, 2013, at the age of 104 from complications following a stroke. He was buried on the grounds of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.[29]
A
Ministry
New York (1929–1939)
As a result of the recommendation of American opera baritone John Charles Thomas (born 6 September 1891 – died 13 December 1960), Shea studied singing under Gino Monaco, Thomas's own vocal coach.[14][11]
While working for Mutual Life in New York City Shea appeared on an amateur hour program hosted by
In 1933 a network radio director heard Shea sing and arranged an
Shea sang regularly on radio station WHN, and on Erling C. Olsen's Meditations in the Psalms broadcast on radio station WMCA, as well as doing 30-minute programs from 7-7:30 am on WKBO in Jersey City, New Jersey. Shea also appeared on WKBO's "the Old Fashioned Gospel Hour."[32]
Shea sang on the Young Person's Church of the Air radio program, which had been started by Percy Crawford (1902–60)[33] in Philadelphia in 1931 on Radio station WIP.[34][35]
Shea began his recording career at the U.S. branch of
Chicago (1939–1952)
In 1939 Shea auditioned unsuccessfully for a spot[
WMBI (1939–1944) Soon after Dr. Will Houghton, president of the Moody Bible Institute (MBI) offered Shea a staff position with "duties that included emceeing, interviewing, news-casting, continuity writing, programming, administration, auditioning, and singing"[36] on radio station WMBI,[2] "the powerhouse of evangelical radio",[37] the first non-commercial Christian radio station in America, which was owned and operated by the Moody Bible Institute originally on its campus in Chicago.[13] Initially Shea sang on Houghton's Let's Go Back to the Bible, from 1939.[38] Later he was also involved in Miracles and Melodies, which started on 67 radio stations across the USA in 1940, and was broadcast on 187 different stations in 45 US states, Canada, Latin America and China;[37] and in Hymns From the Chapel each morning at 8:15.[38]
Songs in the Night (1944–1952) On 2 January 1944 Shea began his ministry as a featured soloist on Billy Graham's Songs in the Night weekly radio program,
After eight years Shea turned over his duties on this program to Glenn Jorian so that he could devote his energies full-time to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) .[44]
Club Time (1944–1952) In June 1944 Shea resigned from WMBI to sing gospel on a 15-minute weekday radio program, Club Time, [38] the second oldest hymn program on commercial radio.[2][13] Club Time, initially broadcast on Radio station WCFL, was sponsored by Herbert J. Taylor (18 April 1893 – 1 May 1978), a Christian businessman who headed Club Aluminum of Chicago.[2][13] According to Cusic:
Shea's job was to host the program and sing several songs, including the favorite hymn of various famous people. It was on "Club Time" that Beverly Shea became George Beverly Shea at the insistence of the advertising agency; it seems they felt most listeners were confused by a man named "Beverly."[38]
Club Time was broadcast nationally from September 1945 for the next seven years over the
Singspiration (1947)
By the summer of 1947 Shea was signed to the Singspiration Sacred Recordings label,
Evangelistic meetings (1942–1947)
Summer of 1942 In the summer of 1942 Shea took a leave of absence from WMBI to join Word Of Life (WOL) evangelist Jack Wyrtzen for evangelistic crusades in the New York area. He spent this summer traveling throughout New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, singing at youth rallies while also singing on WHN on Sunday mornings.[38]
Youth for Christ (1942) When Shea returned to Chicago in September 1942, he talked with
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (1947 to 2013)
According to Don Cusic, "Shea and Billy Graham are the prime examples of an evangelical Christianity with mainstream appeal after World War II. Previously the
Shea first met Billy Graham in 1940 while Graham was pastor of the Village Church in Western Springs, Illinois. In a September 2007 interview Shea recalled how he first met Billy Graham:
One morning, there was a rap on my office door. I looked out and there was a tall young man with blond hair and we shook hands. He was 21 and I was 31. It was Billy Graham and he had traveled in from Wheaton College on a train just to say 'hello.' He said he listened to my morning hymn show called 'Hymns From The Chapel.' That's how we first got acquainted. I came into this work with Mr. Graham in 1947 after we had exchanged letters and talked on the phone. He said he wanted me to be his gospel singer. I thanked him but told him the only gospel singers I've ever heard about would sing a verse or two and stop and talk a while. 'Would I have to do that?' I asked him. He chuckled and said, 'I hope not.' With that, I said, 'Well, I'd like to come with you.' That was in November of 1947 and I've been with him ever since.[25]
In 1948 Shea, along with Graham, Barrows and Grady Wilson, formulated a set of ethical guidelines, later designated The Modesto Manifesto, that became the cornerstone of the BGEA.[50] Shea, along with Graham, Barrows, Grady Wilson and George Wilson, is one of the five directors of the BGEA.[51]
Billy Graham Crusades
Shea sang at the unofficial launching of Graham's crusades in the old Armory in Charlotte, North Carolina, in November 1947.[44] His first song was "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story."[52] In the early days of his association with Graham, Shea earned a wage for each meeting.[53]
Since the beginning of Graham's crusade ministry Shea and
As the musical mainstay in Graham's crusades, Shea is often called "America's beloved Gospel singer."
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.[58]
Shea himself indicated the importance of his solo: "Billy looks forward to the solo before the message as a time for people to quiet down and for him to gather strength."[55]
Shea also made a valuable contribution to the increased effectiveness of Graham's crusades. According to R. Alan Streett:
For a number of years the entire congregation sang the invitational hymn, until Bev Shea suggested that the choir alone handle the assignment. Shea remembered how he, as an eighteen-year-old lad, was convicted by the Spirit as a choir sang "Just As I Am." He felt the effects of a soft choir number could be used by God to touch people's hearts.[59]
One day Shea suggested to Graham:
Have you ever thought of saying, "As the choir sings, you come"? With just the choir singing there might be more contemplation upon the Holy Spirit's call. Soon after that, for the first time in his growing ministry, he began to say at the close of every service, "As the choir sings, you come!"[55]
- Hour of Decision (1950)
The Hour of Decision radio program was produced in the
Because of 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.[54]
Recording career (1951 to 2013)
Shea has recorded approximately 500 vocal solos His rich Canadian baritone voice can also be heard on Ricky Skaggs album Mosaic.
RCA Victor and Word
In 1951, Shea was signed to
Notable songs
Shea is best known for his rendition of "
Composing
- "I'd Rather Have Jesus" (1932)
In 1932 Shea composed the tune to "I'd Rather Have Jesus," the words of which were written by Rhea F. Miller (1894–1966),[60][61] the wife of Dr. Howard Miller, later a general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene.[62] When RCA Victor signed Shea to a recording contract, "the song that the company chose to initially spotlight their new singer was "I'd Rather Have Jesus."[56]
- "The Wonder of It All" (1955)
Shea also wrote both the lyrics and music for "The Wonder of It All," which was
Writing
Shea authored a number of books including an autobiography, Then Sings My Soul (1968); Songs That Lift the Heart (1972); How Sweet the Sound (2004); and Stories Behind 50 Southern Gospel Favorites, Vol. 2 (2005).[2][15][64]
Television appearances
- Hour of Decision (1951–54): Billy Graham's television program that was broadcast for three years from 1951 in primetime on Sunday evenings on the ABC television network[65]
- New York city in the summer of 1957; the telecasts attracted an average audience of over 6.4 million viewers[65]
- The Wonder of It All (1998): a television program on his life story produced by North Carolina Public Television[2][15]
- North Carolina Now (2009): North Carolina Public Television's news program's Mitchell Lewis interviewed Shea; a four-part interview
Films
- Oiltown, U.S.A. (1953): Shea's first theatrical film, produced by the BGEA's World Wide Pictures[66]
- The Mighty Fortress (1955): a newsreel film of the Billy Graham's 1954 Crusade for Europe, that was produced and directed by Paul Short, in which Shea performed "Amazing Grace"[67]
- Pilgrim's Progress (1977): Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson made his film debut[68]
- Then Sings My Soul (1984): a film musical/documentary produced by World Wide Pictures[2][15]
- The New Orleans Story (2008): appeared in this documentary on the effects of Hurricane Katrina; written and directed by Stephen Rue
Awards and honors
During his career, Shea was nominated for ten
In 1978, he was inducted into the
The Christian Holiness Association (now Christian Holiness Partnership) presented Shea its Christian Service Award in 1993.[70] In 1996 the association of National Religious Broadcasters voted Shea into its "Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame."[2][15]
On September 11, 1999, Shea received the Integrity Award from Marketplace Ministries in
On February 12, 2011, Shea received the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award alongside
Honorary degrees
In 1956, Shea received an
Biographical book
Shea is the subject of an authorized biography, George Beverly Shea: Tell Me the Story by Paul Davis, published on April 15, 2009.
References in popular culture
Shea and "
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1932307290.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Michael Ireland, "America's 'Beloved Gospel Singer,' George Beverly Shea, to Celebrate 100th Birthday" ASSIST News Service (30 January 2009); "America?s ?Beloved Gospel Singer,? George Beverly Shea, to Celebrate 100th Birthday". Archived from the original on 2009-02-04. Retrieved 2009-02-03.. Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- ^ Melvin L. Butler, "Globalization of Gospel," in Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, ed. W. K. McNeil (Routledge, 2005):139.
- ^ Don Cusic, The Sound of Light: A History of Gospel Music (Popular, 1990):182.
- ^ a b c "Mount Pleasant Cemetery - Allegany County, New York". Interment.net. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ISBN 0-8423-7042-0)
- ^ a b c d "BGEA: A Conversation With George Beverly Shea". Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "A Brief History of Our Church"; "Welcome to Sunnyside". Archived from the original on 2009-02-12. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
- ^ "Wesleyan News". February 21, 2009. Archived from the original on February 21, 2009.
- ^ Midler Avenue Wesleyan Church (2004-02-27). "Midler Ave Wesleyan Church: About Us". Midleravewesleyan.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ a b c d e "George Beverly Shea Collection". Georgebeverlysheamusic.com. 1909-02-01. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ Encyclopedia of Music in Canada. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j [1] [permanent dead link]
- ^ a b "gmahalloffame.org". Gmahalloffame.org. Archived from the original on October 19, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Integrate Internal and External Data | Get Curated Briefings". InfoDesk.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2005.
- ^ a b "Shea, George Beverly." Century of Country; "InfoDesk | Information Management & Sharing Solutions". Archived from the original on February 23, 2005. Retrieved February 3, 2009. . Retrieved 3 February 2009.
- ^ Sherwood Eliot Wirt, Billy: A Personal Look at Billy Graham, the World's Best-loved Evangelist (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1997):52-55; Retrieved 10 February 2009.
- ^ S.E. Wirt, Crusade at the Golden Gate (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1959).
- ^ Stuart Barton Babbage and Ian Siggins, Light Beneath the Cross (Melbourne: World's Work, 1960).
- ^ Sherwood Eliot Wirt, Billy: A Personal Look at Billy Graham, the World's Best-loved Evangelist (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1997):65;
- ^ "Select Chronology Listing of Events in the History of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association"; "BGEA Chronology Details". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-03-03. (updated 10 December 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2009).
- ^ a b "BGEA Chronology Details". Wheaton.edu. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ Reflection: A Magazine for the Alumni and Friends of Montreat College 6 (Winter 2001):3; "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) . Retrieved 4 February 2009. - ^ Billy Graham Center Archives, Wheaton College, "BGEA Chronology Details". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ a b c "'I'd Rather Have Jesus' - At 97 years of age, George Beverly Shea is still singing for the Lord". News.christiansunite.com. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Wooding, Dan (October 20, 2004). "I Am 95 and Am Feeling All of 90". ASSIST News Service. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
- ^ "'Joy of Music' Filmed at Montreat College," Reflection: A Magazine for the Alumni and Friends of Montreat College 6 (Winter 2001):3; "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-27. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) . Retrieved 4 February 2009. - ^ Harold Myra and Marshall Shelley, The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham (Zondervan, 2005):244.
- ^ "Billy Graham Library: George Beverly Shea, Longtime Billy Graham Associate, Passes Away". Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
- ^ "The Grandfather Of Alt-Science: Art Robinson has seeded scientific skepticism within the GOP for decades. Now he wants to use urine to save lives" by Daniel Engber on FiveThirtyEight. Oct. 12, 2017 Accessed Oct. 15, 2017.
- ^ a b Ace Collins, Turn Your Radio on: The Stories Behind Gospel Music's All-Time Greatest Songs (Zondervan, 1999):104.
- ^ a b "LivingHymns.org >> Al Smith Biography". Livinghymns.org. Archived from the original on 2020-01-28. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
- ^ "Papers of Percy Bartimus Crawford and Ruth Crawford Porter, Collection 357" at Archives, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton, Illinois Archived 2009-03-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Joel A. Carpenter, Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism (Oxford University Press, 1997):164.
- ^ "Papers of Percy Bartimus Crawford and Ruth Crawford Porter - Collection 357" at Archives, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton, Illinois Archived 2009-03-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Cusic, 182-183.
- ^ a b Joel A. Carpenter, Revive Us Again: The Reawakening of American Fundamentalism (Oxford University Press, 1997):135.
- ^ a b c d e f Cusic, 183.
- ^ Jacob Climo and Maria G. Cattell, Social Memory and History: Anthropological Perspectives, 2nd ed. (Rowman Altamira, 2002):23.
- ^ a b Lewis Drummond and Betty Drummond, Women of Awakenings: The Historic Contribution of Women to Revival Movements (Kregel Publications, 1996):337.
- ^ Betsy J. Green, Western Springs, Illinois (Arcadia Publishing, 2002):98-99.
- ^ Sandra Donovan, Billy Graham (Twenty-First Century Books, 2006):39.
- ^ Deborah Hart Strober and Gerald S. Strober, A Day in the Life of Billy Graham: Living the Message (Square One Publishers, 2003):27.
- ^ a b c d e Cusic, 166.
- ^ Don Cusic, The Sound of Light: A History of Gospel Music (Popular Press of the University of Wisconsin, 1990):135.
- ^ James E. Ruark, The House of Zondervan: Celebrating 75 Years, rev. ed. (Zondervan, 2006):100-101.
- ^ "Ncweb.com website". Archived from the original on March 31, 2009.
- ^ Cusic, 181.
- ^ David Poling, Why Billy Graham? (Sunstone Press, 2007):143.
- ^ Terry Whalin, Billy Graham: America's Greatest Evangelist (W. Terry Whalin, 2002):63.
- ^ Terry Whalin, Billy Graham: America's Greatest Evangelist (W. Terry Whalin, 2002):81.
- ^ "Bringing God's Love to Taiwan". Decisionmagazine.com. February 26, 2009.
- ^ Donovan, 46.
- ^ a b c For the Crusade at Harringay, London, UK in 1952(?) the organist was Paul Mickelson.BGEA: Media Relations Archived 2008-02-13 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c R. Alan Streett, The Effective Invitation: A Practical Guide for the Pastor. 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2004):197.
- ^ a b Collins, Radio, 106.
- ^ Keith Johnson, I Know Where I've Been. I'm Just Not Sure Where I'm Going (Xulon Press, 2003):60.
- ^ Billy Graham, quoted in The Ottawa Citizen (19 July 2002); in Ask Billy Graham: The World's Best-Loved Preacher Answers Your Most Important Questions, comp. Bill Adler (Thomas Nelson, 2007):62.
- ^ R. Alan Streett, The Effective Invitation: A Practical Guide for the Pastor. 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2004):196.
- ^ Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories: The Inspiring True Stories Behind 101 Favorite Hymns (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1985):138.
- ^ "Rhea F Miller". Hymnary. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
- ^ "George Beverly Shea bio". Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Archived from the original on 2006-05-24. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
- ^ Let There be Praise!(Review and Herald, 1988): Hymn 53
- ^ "George Beverly Shea Profile". Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Archived from the original on 2006-05-05. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
- ^ a b William Martin, "Billy Graham Crusades" in Encyclopedia of Television, ed. Horace Newcomb, 2nd ed. (CRC Press, 2004):264.
- ^ "Oiltown, U.S.A". IMDb.com.
- ^ "The Mighty Fortress". IMDb.com.
- ^ "Pilgrim's Progress". IMDb.com.
- ^ Billboard. The International Music-Record Newsweekly, vol. 78, Nr 13, 26 Mar 1966, s. 12, 13. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b c "Select Chronology Listing of Events in the History of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association"; "BGEA Chronology Details". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2011-03-03.
- ^ "Grammys honour 102-year-old Canadian". CBC News. 13 February 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-02-15. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Patricia Cornwell, Hornet's Nest, Large Print ed. (Berkley Books, 1998):26.
- ^ Brad Whittington, Living with Fred (B&H Publishing Group, 2005):105.
- ^ Jack Cavanaugh, The Peacemakers (David C. Cook, 2006):402.
Further reading
- Gregory, Andy, "George Beverly Shea," 463. In International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002. 4th ed. Routledge, 2002.
External links
- George Beverly Shea at IMDb
- "America's Beloved Gospel Singer"
- Obituary Press Release from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 2013.04.16
- Interview on the Lifespring Podcast
- Entry at thecanadianencyclopedia.ca
- George Beverly Shea discography at Discogs