How Dead He Art

George Beverly Shea, God’s musical director, has died at the age of 104. The wannabe Mountie turned Grammy-winning gospel singer appeared before more than 200 million of the deluded at Billy Graham revival meetings around the world. Early in his career, Graham realized he was tone deaf in more ways than one, and elected not to lead his followers in song, creating the opening for Shea. The long-time Friend of Billy also appeared regularly on Graham’s weekly radio broadcast “The Hour of Decision,” and like Billy, couldn’t get enough of the presidents, singing for Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson and George Bush The First. With more than 70 albums, including the 1966 Best Gospel Grammy winning “Southland Favorites,” Shea was one of the most prolific gospel singers in history, winning a Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy in 2011. He was probably best known for “How Great Thou Art,” which he once sang for 108 consecutive nights at a New York City revival, right alongside Graham, who was fittingly also singing his same old song every night.