Shea may refer to:

• The Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa, syn. Butyrospermum parkii, B. paradoxa), indigenous to Africa
  • Shea butter or Shea nut butter, a slightly greenish or ivory-colored natural fat extracted from fruit of the shea tree
• Shea Stadium, former Home of NY Mets, NY Jets, Worlds Fair in Flushing, NY
• USS Shea (DM-30), a Robert H. Smith-class destroyer minelayer in the United States Navy, named for Lieutenant Commander John Joseph Shea

People[link]

People with the surname Shea:

• Cornelius Shea (1872–1929), American labour leader and crime boss
• Dave Shea (broadcaster), American hockey announcer
• Spec Shea, Francis Joseph "Spec" Shea, American baseball player
• Brek Shea (b. 1990), American soccer player
• George Beverly Shea (b. 1909), Canadian gospel singer/songwriter
• Gerry Shea (1881–1964), American baseball player
• Gwyn Shea (b. 1937), Texas secretary of state and member of the Texas House of Representatives
• Jack Shea (1910–2002), American Olympic gold medalist
• Jack Shea (director) (b. 1928), American film and television director
• Jamie Shea (b. 1953), NATO official.
• Jerry Shea (1892–1947), Wales international rugby union player and rugby league player
• John Shea (disambiguation)
• Joseph Shea (disambiguation)
• Michael Shea (disambiguation)
• Nap Shea (1874–1968), American baseball player
• Patrick Shea (1908–1986), Northern Irish civil servant
• Robert Shea (1933–1994), magazine editor and novelist
• William Shea (1907–1981), American lawyer, for whom New York's Shea Stadium was named

People with first name Shea:

• Shea Fahy, a former Irish sportsperson who played Gaelic football
• Shea Hillenbrand (b. 1975), American baseball player
• Shea Ralph (b. 1978), American women's basketball player and coach
• Shea Rider (b. 1978), English guitarist, singer, songwriter
• Shea Lolin (b. 1983), Classical Conductor, East London
• Shea Weber (b. 1985), Canadian ice hockey player
• Shea Vaccaro (b. 1991), American songwriter and singer
• Shea Ohmsford An elf.

See also[link]

• Shay (disambiguation)
• O'Shea
• Corcu Duibne

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

John O'Shea

John O'Shea playing for Manchester United
Personal information
Full name	John Francis O'Shea[1]
Date of birth	(1981-04-30) 30 April 1981 (age 31)
Place of birth	Waterford, Ireland
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[2][3]
Playing position	Defender
Club information
Current club	Sunderland
Number	16
Youth career
	Ferrybank A.F.C.
	Waterford Bohemians
	Manchester United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1999–2011	Manchester United	256	(10)
2000	→ Bournemouth (loan)	10	(1)
2001	→ Royal Antwerp (loan)	14	(0)
2011–	Sunderland	28	(0)
National team‡
2000–2002	Republic of Ireland U21	13	(1)
2001–	Republic of Ireland	75	(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 February 2011

O'Shea with Manchester United

O'Shea playing in the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League semi-final against Arsenal when he helped his team to the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final

John Francis O'Shea (born 30 April 1981) is an Irish professional footballer, who currently plays as a defender for Premier League team Sunderland and the Republic of Ireland national football team. His strength is his versatility in playing several positions on both the right and left side of the pitch as well as the centre.^[4]

O'Shea made his Republic of Ireland debut in 2001 against Croatia and has since gone on to make over 70 appearances for his country, scoring one goal in 2003 against Australia. He was part of the team that lost to France in a World Cup play off in 2009 and part of the team that secured qualification for UEFA Euro 2012.

Born in Waterford, O'Shea joined Manchester United when he was 17. He spent loan spells at Bournemouth and Royal Antwerp before establishing himself in the Manchester United first team, going on to make almost 400 appearances in all competitions over 10 years. O'Shea won five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, three Football League Cups, the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup while at Manchester United. He joined Sunderland in July 2011.

Career[link]

Club career[link]

Manchester United[link]

Prior to joining the Manchester United academy, O'Shea played for Waterford Bohemians where he was first spotted by United scouts. He signed professional forms at the age of 17 and made his professional debut in 1999 against Aston Villa at Villa Park in a 3–0 Football League Cup defeat.

Following loan spells at Bournemouth and Belgian side Royal Antwerp he returned to Manchester and began to feature in the United first team in the 2002–03 season, demonstrating versatility by playing at left-back, right-back, centre-back and central midfield during the successful 2002–03 Premier League campaign.

In 2003–04, United were without Rio Ferdinand after he began a suspension for missing a drugs test in January, and O'Shea took over from Ferdinand in central defence, helping United reach the FA Cup Final where they triumphed 3–0 over Millwall.

He displayed indifferent form in the 2004–05 season and was linked with a move away from Manchester, with Newcastle and Liverpool being linked with the Irishman. One of the highlights of Manchester United's otherwise slightly disappointing season was the 4–2 away victory against Arsenal, in which O'Shea scored the fourth goal by chipping Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia from the edge of the 18 yard box.

An injury to Gary Neville in the 2005–06 season also gave O'Shea more first-team opportunities. He was criticised for his lacklustre performances that season, and was reportedly one of the players lambasted by United veteran Roy Keane in a controversial interview on the club's MUTV channel.

On 4 February 2007, during league game against Tottenham Hotspur, O'Shea deputised for Edwin van der Sar in goal after van der Sar was taken off the pitch for a broken nose, while Manchester United had already used all three substitutes. During this time he denied his Republic of Ireland teammate Robbie Keane a goal with a save a few minutes before full time. Following this incident, United fans chanted "Ireland's number one" in O'Shea's honour.^[5]

A month later he won over many United fans by scoring an injury time winner against Liverpool at Anfield for United in the league, having come on as a substitute for Wayne Rooney. This goal was important in United going on to regain the Premier League trophy for the 2006–07 season. He also rescued his team against Everton in one of the final games of the season, when he bundled the ball in the net after Everton goalkeeper Iain Turner fumbled a Ryan Giggs corner. United went on to win 4–2.^[6] This was perhaps an even more decisive goal, as Bolton Wanderers were drawing with Chelsea at the same time and defeat would have let Chelsea back into the title race. He scored another goal from close range, in a 2–1 defeat away to Portsmouth that season, this goal came during an injury hit part of the season, were O'Shea, as a versatile player, was required to play at full back. O'Shea had a shooting accuracy of 100% and scored with 80% of his shots in the 2006–07 season.^[7]

During the 2007–08 season, Manchester United used O'Shea as an emergency striker due to injury problems. His use as a striker gave him the distinction of having played in every position for Manchester United. In November 2007, O'Shea extended his contract at Manchester United, to keep him at the club until 2012. Throughout the 2007–08 season, O'Shea came off the bench several times and proved important as a utility player on the way to a European double. O'Shea captained his club for the first time, during a 2–0 home defeat to Coventry City in the League Cup Fourth Round.

Throughout the 2008–09 season, O'Shea became a regular within the team, deputising at right back because of injuries to Gary Neville and Wes Brown. On 20 January 2009, O'Shea scored his first goal of the season against Derby County in the 2nd leg of the Carling Cup semi-final.^[8] O'Shea then started the 2009 Football League Cup Final, before being replaced by Nemanja Vidić on 76 minutes, United won the game 4–1 on penalties. On 29 April 2009, O'Shea scored the only goal of the game in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, this set United up to go on and win in the second leg by 4–1 on aggregate.^[9] O'Shea started and played the full 90 minutes in the 2009 Champions League Final 2–0 loss to Barcelona, and by many accounts was one of United's better performers on the night.^[10][11][12] Sir Alex Ferguson had promised O'Shea, who was an unused substitute in the 2008 Champions League Final, a starting place in the 2009 final for his contribution to the team that season.^[13]

O'Shea captained United for the second time against Birmingham City in their first game of the 2009–10 Premier League season.^[14] He celebrated his 350th appearance fittingly by scoring his first league goal in over two years against Stoke City on 29 September 2009, firing a header in a 2–0 win he became the captain for the third time against schalke 04 in uefa champions league 2010-2011 season semi final.As a true legend of manchester united he made a total appearances of 393 and scoring important goals for Manchester United.^[15]

Sunderland[link]

On 7 July 2011, O'Shea signed a four-year contract with Sunderland, managed by former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce, who paid Manchester United an undisclosed fee for O'Shea.^[16] In his first appearance for Sunderland, a friendly against Arminia Bielefeld, O'Shea picked up a hamstring injury, ruling him out for the rest of pre-season and the start of the 2011-12 campaign. O'Shea made his first competitive appearance for Sunderland on 27 August 2011 in a goalless draw against Swansea.^[17]

International career[link]

O'Shea earned his first senior cap for the Republic of Ireland on 15 August 2001, when he came on as an 84th minute substitute at home to Croatia. His debut ended in disappointment, however, when he gave away a penalty in injury time, which resulted in Ireland conceding their lead, and the game ending 2–2. His versatility has earned him a place in the starting eleven. Although played in various positions during last few qualifying campaigns, he has made the defensive slot his own, mainly in central defence with Richard Dunne and at right back on occasion or filling in for injured players. On 19 August 2003, O'Shea scored his first international goal as he netted Ireland's first in a 2–1 victory over Australia.^[18]

During the 2010 World Cup qualifying, O'Shea was ever present in the starting line-up for eight of the 10 games. On 1 April 2009, in the game against Italy, he was elbowed in the forehead by Giampaolo Pazzini, who earned the record for the fastest sending off in Italian football history. After receiving treatment for the bleeding, O'Shea continued playing all 90 minutes.^[19]

International goal[link]

John O'Shea: International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	19 August 2003	Lansdowne Road, Dublin, Ireland	Australia	1–1	2–1	Friendly

Personal life[link]

O'Shea married long term partner Yvonne Manning, 27, in the small surrounds of the Lady Chapel in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland on 8 June 2010. They divorced in February 2011. In 2008, he spoke of his years of enduring taunts from fans of rival football teams about his sexuality. He said, "I've been gay for about five years. The Manchester City fans think I'm gay. It's ridiculous." He added, "it's just a bit of banter really. I just brush it off. It doesn't annoy me. I'm always ready for the sing-song when we play City."^[20]

Career statistics[link]

Club[link]

Statistics accurate as of match played 4 February 2012^[21]

International[link]

^[22]

Honours[link]

Club[link]

Manchester United^[23]

• Premier League (5): 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11
• FA Cup (1): 2003–04
• Football League Cup (3): 2005–06, 2008–09 2009–10
• FA Community Shield (4): 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2007–08
• FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

Individual[link]

• Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year (1): 2001–02

Notes[link]

1. ^ Includes other competitive competitions, including the FA Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, FIFA Club World Cup

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: John O'Shea

• Profile at ManUtd.com
• John O'Shea career stats at Soccerbase
• John O'Shea's Premier League profile

v t e Republic of Ireland squad – UEFA Euro 2012 1 Given 2 St Ledger 3 Ward 4 O'Shea 5 Dunne 6 Whelan 7 McGeady 8 Andrews 9 Doyle 10 Keane (c) 11 Duff 12 Kelly 13 McShane 14 Walters 15 Gibson 16 Westwood 17 Hunt 18 O'Dea 19 Long 20 Cox 21 Green 22 McClean 23 Forde Coach: Trapattoni

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (August 2009)

Shea Fisher(Born in Portland Victoria in April 1988) is an Australian-born country singer. She has moved to the United States to begin a career in country music, signing to Stroudavarious Records that year. She also has a record deal with ABC Music in Australia.

Biography[link]

This section requires expansion.

Fisher released her debut single, "Just The Excuse", and debut album "Everyday Girl" in Australia in July 2007 after being signed to Australian label ABC Music in April 2007. In early 2009, James Stroud heard music from Fisher's second album "Shea" and signed her to, Stroudavarious Records where Richard Landis and Steve Forde will produce her music.^[1] . The first single off the album, "Don't Chase Me", was released in April 2009 and was made into a music video directed by Trey Fanjoy.

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Singles[link]

Music videos[link]

References[link]

• allmusic - Shea Fisher
• CMT.com - Shea Fisher
• theresmoretocountry.com - Shea Fisher
• HitCountry.TV Shea Fisher

External links[link]

• Official site
• Stroudavarious Records
• Shea Fisher Australian Site

George Beverly "Bev" Shea (born February 1, 1909) is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian-born American gospel singer and hymn composer. Shea has often been described as "America's beloved Gospel singer"^[1] and is considered "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos at Billy Graham Crusades and his exposure on radio, records, and television.^[2][3] According to the Guinness Book of Records Shea holds the world record for singing in person to the most people ever, with an estimated cumulative live audience of 220 million people.^[4]

Biography[link]

Early life and family[link]

George Beverly Shea was born in Winchester, Ontario, Canada on February 1, 1909, the fourth of eight children of Rev. Adam J. Shea (1872–1946),^[5] a Wesleyan Methodist Church minister, and his wife, Maude Whitney Shea (1881–1971).^[1][5]

Church background[link]

The Shea family served at the Wesleyan Methodist church in Winchester, Ontario, Canada;^[6] Houghton, New York (1917–1921); the Sunnyside Wesleyan Methodist church in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada from 1921;^[7][8] at the Willett Memorial Wesleyan Methodist Church at Midler Avenue, Syracuse, New York;^[9] and the Jersey City, New Jersey Wesleyan Methodist church during his youth.^[10]

Spiritual background[link]

Shea himself has said that he became a Christian at the age of five or six,^[11] but made a re-dedication to Christ when he was 18:

[T]here were times when I needed to rededicate my life to the Lord Jesus. When I was 18, my dad was pastoring a church in Ottawa, and I was feeling not too spiritual. The church was having a "special effort," as they called it, for a week. I remember that on Friday night Dad came down from the pulpit and tenderly placed his hand on my shoulder. He whispered, "I think tonight might be the night, son, when you come back to the Lord." Whatever Dad did or said, I listened to him and respected him. And, yes, that was the night!^[11]

Shea accepted Christ again as his Saviour at the Sunnyside Wesleyan Methodist Church in Ottawa, Canada.

Musical background[link]

Shea was taught to play the violin by his father, and the piano and organ by his mother.^[12] Shea's deep resonant baritone voice brought early recognition and provided many opportunities for him to sing in his father's church.^[13] He began singing at religious meetings in the Ottawa Valley.^[12]

Education[link]

Shea attended Annesley College in Ottawa, before transferring in 1928 to Houghton College (Houghton, New York), where he studied singing with Herman Baker.^[12] While studying at Houghton College, Shea sang with the Houghton College Glee Club.^[14] Financial difficulties made it necessary for him to terminate his studies in 1929.^[13]

Secular employment[link]

After leaving college Shea became a clerk in the medical department in the New York City offices of the Mutual of New York Life Insurance Company, where he worked for the next nine years.^[13][15]

Marriages and children[link]

Shea married his childhood sweetheart, ^[15] Erma L. Scharfe (1908–1976)^[16] on 16 June 1934.^[17] Shea and Erma had two children: Ronnie and Elaine.^[13][17]

Shea's children became Christians at an early age. Shea's daughter Elaine became a Christian at the age of 8 during a Billy Graham Crusade at the Cow Palace, San Francisco, California in 1958.^[18][19][20] In 1959 Ron responded to an invitation by Billy Graham during one of the Crusade meetings in Sydney, Australia and was counseled by Grady Wilson.^[18][21][22] Erma Shea died in September 1976, and memorial services were held at Western Springs, Illinois on 8 September 1976.^[23]

On 19 December 1985 Shea married Karlene Aceto^[24] (1942 -), a 1972 graduate of Montreat College,^[25][26] in Montreat, North Carolina.^[24] In a September 2007 interview Shea recalled how he met and married his second wife, Karlene:

"It has been 20 years of bliss. I was a widower for 10 years in a suburb of Chicago and that's a long time. When we were over in Korea in 1984, Billy brought me into his room and said, 'I've been talking to Ruth, my wife, in Montreat this morning on the phone and we think that 10 years is enough,' and so he mentioned Karlene's name. Mr. Graham didn't do the service. We had the pastor of our church here and he put on his nice robe and we were married in Billy's home.^[27]

Shea, who became a naturalized American citizen in 1941,^[28] and his wife, Karlene reside in a home in Montreat, North Carolina^[29] on the same road as Billy Graham's home.^[30]

Ministry[link]

New York (1929-1939)[link]

As a result of the recommendation of American opera baritone John Charles Thomas (born 6 September 1891 — died 13 December 1960), Shea studied singing under Gino Monaco, Thomas' own vocal coach.^[14][31]

Radio[link]

While working for Mutual Life in New York City Shea appeared on an amateur hour program hosted by Fred Allen on NBC radio. Despite losing to a yodeler, Shea earned second place, and a spot singing popular music on Allen's program, probably a precursor to Allen's Town Hall Tonight. Although Shea "impressed the critics and scores of fans", he still didn't feel he had discovered a direction for his life. ^[32]

In 1933 a network radio director heard Shea sing and was sufficiently impressed and arranged an audition to sing popular secular songs for Your Hit Parade, a national program with the Lyn Murray Singers broadcast on the NBC network. Shea passed the audition and was offered a job, but reluctantly turned the position down because he didn’t feel right about performing secular music.^[13][15]

Shea sang regularly on radio station WHN, and on Erling C. Olsen's Meditations in the Psalms broadcast on radio station WMCA, as well as doing 30-minute programs from 7-7:30 am on WKBO in Jersey City, New Jersey. Shea also appeared on WKBO's "the Old Fashioned Gospel Hour."^[33]

Shea sang on the Young Person's Church of the Air radio program, which had been started by Percy Crawford (1902–1960)^[34] in Philadelphia in 1931 on Radio station WIP.^[35][36]

Decca Records[link]

Shea began his recording career at the U.S. branch of Decca Records after being signed by A & R representative Jack Kapp, who told Shea: "If you do better than the singer we have in mind, we will give you a contract. If not, you'll have to take the records on yourself. Shea recorded "Jesus Whispers Peace," "Lead Me Gently Home, Father," "I'd Rather Have Jesus," and "God Understands," accompanied by Ruth Crawford (wife of Percy Crawford) on the organ. 7000 copies were sold.^{[citation needed]}

Chicago (1939-1952)[link]

In 1939 Shea auditioned unsuccessfully for a spot^{[clarification needed]} on a CBS radio program that originated in Chicago, Illinois.^[32]

WMBI (1939-1944)[link]

Soon after Dr. Will Houghton, president of the Moody Bible Institute (MBI) offered Shea a staff position with "duties that included emceeing, interviewing, news-casting, continuity writing, programming, administration, auditioning, and singing"^[37] on radio station WMBI,^[1] "the powerhouse of evangelical radio",^[38] the first non-commercial Christian radio station in America, which was owned and operated by the Moody Bible Institute originally on its campus in Chicago.^[13] Initially Shea sang on Houghton's Let's Go Back to the Bible, from 1939.^[39] Later he was also involved in Miracles and Melodies, which started on 67 radio stations across the USA in 1940, and was broadcast on 187 different stations in 45 US states, Canada, Latin America and China;^[38] and in Hymns From the Chapel each morning at 8:15.^[39]

[edit] Songs in the Night (1944-1952)

On 2 January 1944 Shea began his ministry as a featured soloist on Billy Graham's Songs in the Night weekly radio program,^[40] which was broadcast live on Sunday evenings for 45 minutes from 10.15pm^[41] from the basement of the Village (Baptist) Church at 4475 Wolf Road, Western Springs, Illinois^[42] pastored by Graham,^[43] and transmitted on radio station WCFL originating from Chicago, Illinois. The popularity of Shea helped make the previously financially struggling program self-sustaining within weeks.^[44] The Drummonds indicate that Shea "skyrocketed the broadcast into a great success," so that soon Songs in the Night was broadcast twice on Sundays.^[41]

After eight years Shea turned over his duties on this program to Glenn Jorian so that he could devote his energies full-time to the BGEA.^[45]

[edit] Club Time (1944-1952)

In June 1944 Shea resigned from WMBI to sing gospel on a 15 minute weekday radio program, Club Time, ^[39] the second oldest hymn program on commercial radio.^[1][13] Club Time, initially broadcast on Radio station WCFL, was sponsored by Herbert J. Taylor (18 April 1893 – 1 May 1978), a Christian businessman who headed Club Aluminum of Chicago.^[1][13] According to Cusic:

Shea's job was to host the program and sing several songs, including the favorite hymn of various famous people. It was on "Club Time" that Beverly Shea became George Beverly Shea at the insistence of the advertising agency; it seems they felt most listeners were confused by a man named "Beverly." ^[39]

Club Time was broadcast nationally from September 1945 for the next seven years over the ABC Radio and Armed Forces Networks and many independent stations.^[1][13] This show brought Shea national recognition,^[15] and by 1951 Shea was the most prominent male soloist in gospel music.^[46]

Singspiration (1947)[link]

By the summer of 1947 Shea was signed to the Singspiration Sacred Recordings label,^[47] which had been founded by Dr. Alfred B. Smith (born 8 November 1916 — died 9 August 2001)^[33] in 1941, where he sang on a number of 78 rpm albums, including "Bass Baritone" (Singspiration "Treasure Chest Series" LP S-100) and "Lead Me Gently Home, Father" (Singspiration LP 156).^[48]

Evangelistic meetings (1942-1947)[link]

Summer of 1942[link]

In the summer of 1942 Shea took a leave of absence from WMBI to join Word Of Life (WOL) evangelist Jack Wyrtzen for evangelistic crusades in the New York area. He spent this summer traveling throughout New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, singing at youth rallies while also singing on WHN on Sunday mornings.^[39]

Youth for Christ (1942)[link]

When Shea returned to Chicago in September 1942, he talked with Torrey Johnson about conducting youth meetings in that area and soon "Chicagoland Youth For Christ" was held in Orchestra Hall on Michigan Avenue, Chicago, with Shea singing and Billy Graham speaking. From this initial concert, Johnson founded Youth for Christ (YFC).^[39] Shea sang in YFC rallies across the U.S. and Canada.^[13]

Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (1947 to present)[link]

According to Don Cusic, "Shea and Billy Graham are the prime examples of an evangelical Christianity with mainstream appeal after World War II. Previously the evangelicals and fundamentalists were on the fringes of American religion; Shea and Graham put it in the mainstream."^[49] According to David Poling, "central to Billy's successful ministry are the years of loyal service of people like George Beverly Shea, the first staff member to be hired by Graham back in the Chicago radio days."^[50] Shea has been involved as a soloist with Billy Graham and his ministry, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) since 1947.^[27]

Shea first met Billy Graham in 1940 while Graham was pastor of the Village Church in Western Springs, Illinois. In a September 2007 interview Shea recalled how he first met Billy Graham:

"One morning, there was a rap on my office door. I looked out and there was a tall young man with blond hair and we shook hands. He was 21 and I was 31. It was Billy Graham and he had traveled in from Wheaton College on a train just to say 'hello.' He said he listened to my morning hymn show called 'Hymns From The Chapel.' That's how we first got acquainted. I came into this work with Mr. Graham in 1947 after we had exchanged letters and talked on the phone. He said he wanted me to be his gospel singer. I thanked him but told him the only gospel singers I've ever heard about would sing a verse or two and stop and talk a while. 'Would I have to do that?' I asked him. He chuckled and said, 'I hope not.' With that, I said, 'Well, I'd like to come with you.' That was in November of 1947 and I've been with him ever since."^[27]

In 1948 Shea, along with Graham, Barrows and Grady Wilson, formulated a set of ethical guidelines, later designated The Modesto Manifesto, that became the cornerstone of the BGEA.^[51] Shea, along with Graham, Barrows, Grady Wilson and George Wilson, is one of the five directors of the BGEA.^[52]

Billy Graham Crusades (1947 to present)[link]

Shea sang at the unofficial launching of Graham's crusades in the old Armory in Charlotte, North Carolina in November 1947.^[45] His first song was "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story." ^[53] In the early days of his association with Graham, Shea earned a wage for each meeting.^[54]

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.^[55]

Shea's role in Billy Graham Crusades[link]

As the musical mainstay in Graham's crusades, Shea is often called "America's beloved Gospel singer."^[1][55] 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."^[56] 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."^[57] Graham said that Shea always prepared his crowds by singing before the message, and he felt the song was more powerful than the sermon.^[58] According to Billy Graham in a 2002 interview in The Ottawa Citizen,"

"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."^[59]

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."^[56]

Shea also made a valuable contribution to the increased effectiveness of Graham's crusades. According to R. Alan Streett:

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." He felt the effects of a soft choir number could be used by God to touch people's hearts.^[60]

One day Shea suggested to Graham:

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!"^[56]

[edit] 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.^[45] 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.^[45]

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.^[55]

Recording career (1951 to present)[link]

Shea has recorded approximately 500 vocal solos^[10] on more than seventy albums (including nine compact discs) of religious music on both the RCA and Word Records labels.^[1] Shea has recorded songs with orchestral accompaniment, as arranged and conducted by musical directors, such as Hugo Winterhalter, Ralph Carmichael, Bill Walker, Nathan Scott, Norman Leyden, Jimmy Owens, Kurt Kaiser, Danny Davis, Charles Grean, and Radio City Music Hall organist, Ray Bohr.^[10] His albums have been produced by RCA’s Steve Sholes, Brad McCuen, Darol Rice, Cliff Barrows, Don Hustad, Bill Fasig, and John Innes.^[10]

RCA (1951)[link]

In 1951 Shea was signed to the RCA record label by Sam Wallace and Elmer Eades, after being "discovered" by Paul Barkmeyer. His first album was entitled Inspirational Songs, produced by Stephen H. Sholes (born 12 February 1911; died 22 April 1968) and backed by the Hugo Winterhalter Orchestra. During Shea's first four years with RCA his records did not recover the cost of recording and pressing, but by the end of the 1950s he enjoyed major record success.^[45]

Notable songs[link]

Shea is best known for his rendition of "How Great Thou Art," the English translation by Rev. Stuart K. Hine of the Swedish song "O Store Gud," written in 1886 by Rev. Carl Boberg (1859–1940). Arguably Shea's most popular hymn is "The Wonder of It All," the title of which was also used by the University of North Carolina Center for Public Television for their 1998 production of his life story.^[1][15]

Song writing[link]

[edit] I'd Rather Have Jesus (1932)

In 1932 Shea composed the tune to "I'd Rather Have Jesus," the words of which were written by Rhea F. Miller (1894–1966),^[61] the wife of Dr. Howard Miller, later a general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene.^[62] When RCA signed Shea to a recording contract, "the song that the company chose to initially spotlight their new singer was "I'd Rather Have Jesus." ^[57]

The Wonder of It All (1955)[link]

Shea also wrote both the lyrics and music for "The Wonder of It All," which was copyrighted originally by Chancel Music in 1956.^[63]

Writing career[link]

Shea authored a number of books including an autobiography, Then Sings My Soul (1968); Songs That Lift the Heart (1972); How Sweet the Sound (2004); and Stories Behind 50 Southern Gospel Favorites, Vol. 2 (2005).^[1][15][64]

Film and television career[link]

Television appearances[link]

[edit] Hour of Decision (1951-1954)

Shea appeared on television on Billy Graham's Hour of Decision television program that was broadcast for three years from 1951 in primetime on Sunday evenings on the ABC television network.^[65]

Madison Garden Crusade (Summer 1957)[link]

Shea sang "How Great Thou Art" in the ABC live telecasts each Saturday evening from 1 June of Billy Graham's Crusade in Madison Square Garden, in New York city in the summer of 1957. These telecasts attracted an average audience of over 6.4 million viewers.^[65]

[edit] The Wonder of It All (1998)

In 1998 North Carolina Public Television produced "The Wonder of It All," a television program on his life story.^[1][15]

[edit] George Beverly Shea (2009)

North Carolina Public Television's news program "North Carolina Now" interviewed Shea. Mitchell Lewis conducted a four-part interview with the man known as "America's Most Beloved Gospel Singer."

Films[link]

[edit] Oiltown, U.S.A. (1953)

Shea's first theatrical film was Oiltown, U.S.A., which was produced in 1953 by the BGEA's World Wide Pictures.^[66]

[edit] The Mighty Fortress (1955)

Shea performed the hymn Amazing Grace in The Mighty Fortress, a 1955 newsreel film of the Billy Graham's 1954 Crusade for Europe, that was produced and directed by Paul Short.^[67]

[edit] Pilgrim's Progress (1977)

In Ken Anderson's 1977 film Pilgrim's Progress, Shea was the narrator, and Oscar-nominated actor Liam Neeson made his film debut.^[68]

[edit] Then Sings My Soul (1984)

In 1984 Shea featured in Then Sings My Soul, a film musical/documentary produced by World Wide Pictures.^[1][15]

The New Orleans Story (2008)[link]

Shea appeared as himself in the 2008 documentary on the effects of Hurricane Katrina in The New Orleans Story, written and directed by Stephen Rue.

Awards and honors[link]

During his career Shea was nominated for ten Grammy Awards, winning on 15 March 1966 the 1965 Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording (Musical)^[1][15] for his album "Southland Favorites" (RCA LSP-3440) recorded with the Anita Kerr Quartet.^[69]

In 1978, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association and for his lifelong contribution to gospel music.^[1][15] On 18 February 1982 Shea was awarded the Gold Angel Award for Country Music award by Religion in Media in Hollywood, California.^[70]

The Christian Holiness Association (now Christian Holiness Partnership) presented Shea its Christian Service Award in 1993.^[70] In 1996 the association of National Religious Broadcasters voted Shea into its "Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame."^[1][15]

On 11 September 1999 Shea received the Integrity Award from Marketplace Ministries in Dallas, Texas.^[70] Shea also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gospel Music Association Canada (GMA Canada) in 2004. He was presented the Edwin P. Hubble Medal of Initiative, the highest honor of the city of Marshfield, Missouri in 2007 by friend Reverend Nicholas W. Inman.^{[citation needed]} Shea sang at the dedication of the Billy Graham Library the following day.

On 12 February 2011 Shea received the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award alongside Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, the Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton and the Ramones at a ceremony held at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, California.^[71]

Honorary degrees[link]

In 1956 Shea received an honorary doctorate, the Doctor of Fine Arts, from his alma mater, Houghton College.^[1][15] In 1972, Shea received another honorary doctorate, the Doctor of Sacred Music (D Sacred MUS), from Trinity College (now Trinity International University) of Deerfield, Illinois.^[1][15]

Later years[link]

Shea celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday February 1, 2009. It was mentioned by the NBC network's The Today Show's Willard Scott on January 29, 2009, and ABC's Paul Harvey on January 31, 2009. Shea outlived Harvey, who died four weeks later.

Biographical Book[link]

Shea is the subject of an authorized biography, George Beverly Shea: Tell Me the Story, by Paul Davis, which was released on April 15, 2009.

References in popular culture[link]

Shea and How Great Thou Art are mentioned in Patricia Cornwell's 1998 best-selling novel Hornet's Nest.^[72] There is an allusion to Shea in Brad Whittington's coming of age novel Living with Fred.^[73] Shea is mentioned in the Christian novel The Peacemakers, the final volume in Jack Cavanaugh's "American Family Portrait" series.^[74]

References[link]