George Beverly Shea (1909-2013) ‘America’s beloved gospel singer’

George Beverly Shea, son of Methodist pastor Rev. Adam Shea, was born in Winchester, Ontario, Canada in 1909, and was the fourth of eight children.

His mother was the church organist and awakened her children every morning by singing and playing on the piano a beloved Christian song. The Shea family was a musical family from the beginning, and worshipping together was always a joy.

Bev (as he was called by his friends) was shy, reserved, courteous and always committed to Jesus Christ in his life in his music.

His singing was never a performance but always a ministry.

He also played in piano, organ, violin and harmonica. His family moved from Ontario to Houghton in Upstate New York in 1917, where Bev later attended Houghton College.

He met and married his sweetheart Erma Scharfe in 1934, and the year before at age 23 he wrote the music to “I’d Rather Have Jesus” that became one of his signature songs. He turned down secular and contract offers to insist that his God-given musical talents be used for the Lord.

He became “the most influential and most popular gospel singer of the 20th century.”

Erma died of cancer after 42 years of marriage. Ten years later, Bev met and married Karlene Aceto.

Both Erma and Karlene were devoted wives and fully committed to Bev’s music ministry.

He had a ministry in song at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago beginning in 1938, and there he met Cliff Barrows in 1943, and Billy Graham in 1945, as the Youth for Christ ministry was launched.

The three teamed together at Moody and began the program “Songs in the Night” featuring Cliff as announcer and choir director and Bev as soloist before the young Billy Graham preached.

Thus, these three began the world-wide evangelistic crusades that continued for the next 50 years.

A few of his favorite gospel songs were: ”Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” ”In Times Like These,” ”I’d Rather Have Jesus,” ”It Is No Secret,” and “How Great Thou Art.”

While en route by ship for a crusade in Scotland in 1955, he wrote the words and music to “The Wonder of It All.”

He recorded more than 70 albums, was physically strong in his 90s, and was “promoted to glory” on April 17, 2013, at the age of 104.

He had sung to more people than anyone else in history, estimated to be over 220 million people in about 185 countries.

What a musical legacy George Beverly Shea has left the world as a musical ambassador for the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Peace!

Writer’s Note: This sketch has relied on information gleaned from a recent biography of George Beverly Shea by Paul Davis.