If you walked into a radio station in Chicago back in 1943, you might have run into a tall, lanky kid from Wheaton College named Billy Graham. He wasn't the "Billy Graham" yet. He was just a young preacher with a big vision and a tiny budget. He was looking for a voice. Specifically, he was looking for a guy he’d heard on the radio—a man with a bass-baritone so deep it felt like it was vibrating from the center of the earth.
That voice belonged to George Beverly Shea.
Most people today know him as the soloist for the Billy Graham Crusades. The guy who sang "How Great Thou Art" to millions. But there is a whole lot more to the story than just standing behind a microphone. Honestly, Shea was a pioneer. He basically invented the template for what we now think of as a "gospel star," even though he would have absolutely hated that term.
The Audition That Changed Everything (and the One He Refused)
Before he was "America's Beloved Gospel Singer," Shea was working a desk job. It's kinda hard to imagine, but he spent nine years as a clerk for an insurance company in New York. He sang on the side, mostly on religious radio stations like WHN and WMCA.
Then came the moment that could have changed his life in a completely different way.
He auditioned for an "amateur hour" on NBC hosted by Fred Allen. He crushed it. He took second place and the audience went nuts. Suddenly, secular offers were on the table. He could have been a crooner. He could have chased the big bands and the bright lights of commercial radio.
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He said no.
It wasn't a PR move. It was personal. He’d made a promise to himself—and his mom—that he’d only use his voice for God. Around this time, he sat down at the family piano and composed the music for a poem his mother had left for him. That song was "I’d Rather Have Jesus." It wasn't just a hymn; it was his manifesto. He lived those lyrics for the next 80 years.
Why George Beverly Shea Was More Than Just a Sidekick
The partnership between Graham and Shea lasted for nearly 70 years. That’s unheard of in the entertainment world. Or the ministry world, for that matter.
Often, people think of George Beverly Shea as just the "opening act." That’s a mistake. In the early days, the posters actually read "BEV SHEA SINGS... Billy Graham will preach." In many ways, Shea was the more famous of the two when they started.
He had this way of settling a crowd. You have to remember, these crusades were massive. Tens of thousands of people in a stadium, often in heat or rain. It could be chaotic. Then Shea would step up. No theatrics. No vocal gymnastics. Just that steady, impeccable diction.
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The Stats Are Actually Wild
- He sang live to an estimated 220 million people. That’s a record that might never be broken.
- He recorded more than 70 albums.
- He was nominated for 10 Grammys, winning his first in 1965 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
- He lived to be 104. He was literally singing into his hundreds.
What Most People Get Wrong About "How Great Thou Art"
You can't talk about George Beverly Shea without talking about "How Great Thou Art." It’s his signature. But he didn't write it.
The song had been around in different forms—originally a Swedish poem, then translated into German, then Russian. An English missionary named Stuart K. Hine eventually gave it the English lyrics we know. But it was Shea who "broke" the song in America during the 1957 New York Crusade at Madison Square Garden.
The crowd kept asking for it. He sang it night after night. He ended up performing it over 100 times during that one crusade alone. It became a cultural phenomenon because of him.
The Man Behind the Microphone
If you talk to anyone who knew him—like his son Ron or the late Cliff Barrows—they all say the same thing. He was humble. Like, annoyingly humble. He’d spend hours listening to people’s problems backstage, but he’d never talk about his own.
He was also a bit of a jokester. Despite the serious "bass-baritone" persona, he didn't act his age. Even in his late 90s, he was sharp, funny, and deeply engaged with the people around him.
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He married his childhood sweetheart, Erma, and they were together until she passed away in 1976. Later, he married Karlene Aceto in 1985. He often called those years "bliss." It’s rare to see a life that long without a hint of scandal, but Shea managed it. He just wanted to sing his songs and go home.
The Practical Legacy: Why He Still Matters
George Beverly Shea isn't just a nostalgia trip for people who grew up watching black-and-white TV. He represents a specific kind of integrity. In a world where everyone is trying to "brand" themselves and go viral, Shea did the opposite. He stayed in his lane.
If you're a musician or a creator, there are a few things you can actually learn from his career:
- Consistency beats hype. He didn't change his style to fit the 60s, 70s, or 80s. He knew his voice and he stuck to it.
- Collaboration is a superpower. He was part of a "threefold cord" with Graham and Barrows. They didn't compete; they complemented each other.
- Values aren't just for show. Turning down those early secular contracts defined his entire trajectory.
Your George Beverly Shea Playlist
If you want to understand why his voice mattered, you can't just read about it. You have to hear it. Start with these three:
- "I’d Rather Have Jesus" – This is the soul of the man. It’s quiet, intimate, and deeply convicting.
- "The Wonder of It All" – He wrote this one himself. It shows off his range and his ability to tell a story through a melody.
- "How Great Thou Art" (Live from Madison Square Garden) – This is the historical moment. You can hear the power in the room.
To really appreciate the history of gospel music, take 20 minutes this weekend to look up old footage of the 1957 New York Crusade. Watch how Shea carries himself. There are no light shows, no autotune, and no ego. Just a man with a gift and a very clear sense of purpose.