He's performed on almost every corner of the planet and holds the Guinness Book of World Records mark for singing in front of the most people ever, a combined audience of 220 million, much of it with his old friend the Rev. Billy Graham.
He's met almost every president of the past 60 years. He's recorded more than 500 vocal solos, more than 70 albums and performed on radio, TV and in film. He's earned 10 Grammy nominations and won the award in 1965.
Next month, just after his 102nd birthday, he's headed to Los Angeles to collect a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, the group that presents the Grammys. The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented Feb. 12, a day before the full Grammy ceremony.
“We believe that Mr. Shea will be the oldest living recipient” of the Lifetime Achievement Award, said Grammy spokeswoman Stephanie Schell. This year, other recipients are singer-actress Julie Andrews, bandleader Roy Haynes, the Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio folk group, country superstar Dolly Parton and punk rockers The Ramones.
Shea brushes aside notion of stardom.
“I don't see much spotlight,” he said. “I never did anything on my own. Well, I was 26 years on RCA (records), and that was nice. The man who signed up Elvis signed me up. I think Elvis sold a few more records than I did.”
He continues to perform concerts, most recently around Christmas. “I feel very much alive,” he said.
More than a grand voice, Shea is known as a loyal friend and family man and a crucial member of the Graham ministry — and as an inspiration to generations of Christian musicians.
“He laid the foundation in the middle and later part of the 20th century for what we know as popular Christian music,” said Jim Kirkland, director of radio for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which includes Black Mountain radio station WMIT-FM/106.9 The Light.READ More at Citizens-Times
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