George Beverly Shea dies; sang at Graham crusades

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) George Beverly Shea, the booming baritone who sang to millions of Christians at evangelist Billy Graham's crusades, has died after a brief illness. He was 104.

Spokesman Brent Rinehart of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association says Shea died Tuesday night after a brief illness.

Shea was well-known as a gospel soloist before he and Graham met in the early 1940s. He joined Graham's crusade team in 1947 and stayed until Graham's declining health ended most of the evangelist's public appearances nearly 60 years later.

Besides his distinctive voice, Shea was known for his trademark rendition of "How Great Thou Art" and his inspirational "The Wonder of It All."

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