Booming baritone George Beverly Shea dies at the age of 104

George Beverly Shea, a member of the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame, died in Asheville at the age of 104 after a brief illness on Tuesday (April 16, 2013). He is survived by his wife, Karlene, and his children from his first marriage, Ronald and Elaine. Born in Winchester, the Canadian emigrant, whose booming baritone voice echoed through squares, stadiums and souls during his decades-long career, joined evangelist Billy Graham’s crusade team in 1947. However, George Beverly Shea was well-known as a gospel soloist before he met Graham in the early 1940s. He then became one of America's most-recognized gospel soloists, himself summing up his career with his inspirational "The Wonder of It All" and his trademark rendition of "How Great Thou Art.”

Photo: Opera.
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