George Beverly Shea – “A Gentle Giant”

In a recent conversation I was asked who I would like to have interviewed during my half century plus radio career. I quickly answered George Beverly Shea. Then the follow up question, “Why?”

My response went something like, “Can you imagine a conversation with a man who music historians say sung to more people in person (estimated 225 million) than anyone else in history.”

Mr. Shea rich baritone voice was heard before each message Dr. Billy Graham preached while traveling around the world. It’s understandable why Gospel musician Bill Gaither called him, “A gentle giant.”

The Canadian born singer and hymn writer was born Feb. 1, 1909 in Ontario, Canada. He became a U.S. citizen in 1941. Mr. Shea grew up in the Wesleyan Methodist Church where his father was pastor and said he trusted Christ at the age of six.

His interest in music started in elementary school when his mother taught him to play the piano and organ and his father taught him the violin; about the same time he began singing.

Mr. Shea finished school and went to work for Mutual Life in New York City. Feeling he hadn’t discovered the direction for his life, Mr. Shea entered a contest on NBC radio's Fred Allen Amateur Hour. He lost to a yodeler but someone at the network arranged for an audition on “Your Hit Parade.” Mr. Shea passed the audition but preferred singing Christian music and took several jobs on Gospel programs in and around New York.

In 1939, Mr. Shea went to work for WMBI radio in Chicago and one morning in walked this young tall preacher, Billy Graham. The 21-year-old ministerial student said he’d listened to Shea on the radio and had traveled by train from Wheaton College just to say hello.

The two became good friends and in November, 1947 Mr. Shea sang his first song, “I will sing the wondrous story,” before Billy Graham’s message in a Charlotte, N.C. revival. Mr. Shea remained with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association until his passing in 2013.

Labeled “America’s beloved gospel singer,” Mr. Shea had many friends in Chattanooga. The late Chattanooga News Free Press writer George Burnham traveled extensively with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in the 1950s, covering the preacher’s crusades. One of Burnham’s articles was entitled, “Story behind Bev Shea’s Popular Hymn Revealed.” Mr. Burnham wrote about Mr. Shea writing the music to Mrs. Rhea F. Miller’s lyrics, “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” written in 1932.

Burnham family members said while growing up, Mr. Shea spent a lot of time in their home and they got to know the man behind the beautiful baritone voice.

When Mr. Burnham passed, his family received a telegram from Mr. Shea, “Please be assured of our love and prayers for you and each member of the family. May the words of our Lord give comfort today, I will never leave thee nor forsake the,” signed Erma and Beverly Shea.

The late Dr. James L. Fowle said while the Graham team was in Chattanooga in 1953, George Beverly Shea sang “I Will Sing he Wondrous Story” during their morning worship service. Dr. Fowle was First Presbyterian Church Pastor before Rev. Ben Haden, who handled media for several Billy Graham Crusades.

Rev. Haden said in a 2010 television interview with this writer, he was flying from Atlanta to Los Angeles with a well-trained and famous opera singer. He asked the musician who he thought was the world’s greatest singer. The vocalist responded, “George Beverly Shea, because singing is a form of communication from one heart to another and Bev Shea does that well, better than anyone in the world.”

WDEF Radio’s chief engineer Bob Briscoe said he met the entire Graham team when they came to the Warner Park Field House in 1953, but especially remembered Mr. Shea, his sense of humor and big smile.

Mr. Briscoe oversaw all of Dr. Graham’s audio for radio broadcasts and said Mr. Shea sang before each sermon.

Luther Masingill was known as the Voice of Chattanooga, working in broadcasting for over 70 years. Mr. Masingill said he met Mr. Shea when he came to the city with Mr. Graham. Mr. Masingill said his mother sang in the large choir and stood almost directly behind the singer when the choir joined Mr. Shea in “Life’s Railway to Heaven.” Luther said, “I walked with my mother to the platform to meet Mr. Shea, he was her favorite singer; he was a very humble man.”

Luther remembered Billy Graham telling him, of all the Gospel singers in the world, he’d rather hear George Beverly Shea sing than anyone else.

Luther said he received many requests for Mr. Shea’s songs, including, “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” “Jacob’s Ladder,” and “The Wonder of It All.” Luther said his most requested Bev Shea song was “How Great Thou Art,” first sung 100 times in the 1957 Graham crusade at Madison Square Garden.

In 2002, Mr. Shea went back to New York City for a Gaither Homecoming Friends concert at Carnegie Hall and was accompanied on the piano by Anthony Burger from Cleveland. Mr. Burger said the highest point of his career was to play for Mr. Shea.

The late Rev. John Andrus became telephone friends with Mr. Shea after inviting him to sing during a special event at the First Church of the Nazarene where he pastored. Rev. Andrus said Mr. Shea was so gracious and kind. Rev. Andrus said, “We also talked about our Wesleyan Methodist backgrounds."

Chattanooga Funeral Home Secretary – Treasurer Martha Ragland said she and Tennessee State Senator Anna Belle Clement Obrien went to a Shea recording session in Nashville at the famous RCA Victor Studio B. Mrs. Ragland said not only did she meet Mr. Shea but Elvis Presley was also there. “It was an experience I never forgot,” said Mrs. Ragland.

News Free Press Editor Lee Anderson said he’d never met a man as gentle and kind as George Beverly Shea. Mr. Anderson said during his conversations with Mr. Shea, “He was always smiling and so uplifting to talk to.”

Music historian and retired radio personality Hugh Cherry wrote, “Shea carried his songs of praise to uncounted millions throughout the globe. Shea’s songs served as an inspiration for men who have not known Christianity before. Although Shea is called America’s Beloved Gospel Singer, he also belongs to the world.”

Mr. Shea was awarded two honorary doctorate degrees but never wanted to be called Dr. Shea, preferring to be known simply as “Bev.”

Mr. Shea first recorded for Decca Records before signing a contract with RCA. During the 25 years he recorded more than 70 albums with Victor. He also recorded several albums for WORD Records and did some singing on the Ricky Scaggs album, Mosaic.

In 2008 on Mr. Shea’s 98th birthday, Gospel singer Bill Gaither produced the video, “George Beverly Shea – Then Sings My Soul." In watching this well produced documentary, the viewer is taken on a 90 minute journey covering nearly 65 years of friendship between George Beverly Shea, Cliff Barrows and Dr. Billy Graham. Especially touching is both Mr. Gaither and Mr. Shea at the piano singing, “He Touched Me," a song written by Bill and his wife Gloria.

Mr. Gaither said, “It was a privilege to sit and learn from this Gentle Giant on his birthday; his openness, his kind loving spirit and the beautiful story of faithfulness that he represents is overwhelming. How blessed I was to have known George Beverly Shea.”

Mr. Gaither said, “Incredible journey, Bev you did it.” Mr. Shea responded, “It was a privilege to sing with a man like Billy Graham who preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Mr. Shea was 104 when he passed and is buried in Charlotte, N.C. on the grounds of the Billy Graham library.

This writer can only imagine what it would have been like sitting across the microphone for a few minutes having a conversation with one of the most famous and well known Christian singers in history, George Beverly Shea.

Heyearl1971@epbfi.com