George Beverly Shea Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ====Billy Graham Crusades==== Shea sang at the unofficial launching of Graham's crusades in the old Armory in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], in November 1947.<ref name="Cusic, 166"/> His first song was "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://decisionmagazine.com/bringing-gods-love-to-taiwan/|title=Bringing God's Love to Taiwan|date=February 26, 2009|website=Decisionmagazine.com}}</ref> In the early days of his association with Graham, Shea earned a wage for each meeting.<ref>Donovan, 46.</ref> Since the beginning of Graham's crusade ministry Shea and [[Cliff Barrows]] have been the nucleus of the crusade musical team. Barrows is choir director, platform [[emcee]] and radio-television program director. They were joined in 1950 by pianist Tedd Smith, and through the years organists Don Hustad and John Innes have provided additional accompaniment.<ref name="BGEA: Media Relations">For the Crusade at Harringay, London, UK in 1952(?) the organist was [[Paul Mickelson]].[http://www.billygraham.org/MediaRelations_Bios.asp?id=8 BGEA: Media Relations<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213211148/http://www.billygraham.org/MediaRelations_Bios.asp?id=8 |date=2008-02-13 }}</ref> As the musical mainstay in Graham's crusades, Shea is often called "America's beloved Gospel singer."<ref name="assistnews.net"/><ref name="BGEA: Media Relations"/> In each crusade Shea "brings a quiet solo immediately preceding ... Graham's message. His solo serves as a transition from the song service into the message."<ref name="R. Alan Streett 2004">R. Alan Streett, ''The Effective Invitation: A Practical Guide for the Pastor''. 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2004):197.</ref> Collins indicates: "Shea's solos set the tone for the preacher's messages. With his full, rich baritone Shea not only charmed audiences, he also touched them with the message of each song he chose."<ref name="Collins, Radio, 106">Collins, Radio, 106.</ref> Graham said that Shea always prepared his crowds by singing before the message, and he felt the song was more powerful than the sermon.<ref>Keith Johnson, ''I Know Where I've Been. I'm Just Not Sure Where I'm Going'' (Xulon Press, 2003):60.</ref> According to Billy Graham in a 2002 interview in ''[[The Ottawa Citizen]]'', <blockquote>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.<ref>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.</ref></blockquote> 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."<ref name="R. Alan Streett 2004"/> Shea also made a valuable contribution to the increased effectiveness of Graham's crusades. According to R. Alan Streett: <blockquote>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 (hymn)|Just As I Am]]." He felt the effects of a soft choir number could be used by God to touch people's hearts.<ref>R. Alan Streett, ''The Effective Invitation: A Practical Guide for the Pastor''. 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 2004):196.</ref></blockquote> One day Shea suggested to Graham: <blockquote>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!"<ref name="R. Alan Streett 2004"/></blockquote> ;''Hour of Decision'' (1950) The ''Hour of Decision'' radio program was produced in the [[recording studio]] of [[Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]. On 5 December 1950 the ''[[Hour of Decision]]'' radio broadcasts began in [[Atlanta, Georgia]], on 150 radio stations.<ref name="Cusic, 166"/> By its fifth week ''Hour of Decision'' had the largest audience of any religious radio program in history. By 1952 Shea sang regularly on this program.<ref name="Cusic, 166"/> 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.<ref name="BGEA: Media Relations"/> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page