George_Beverly_Shea George Beverly "Bev" Shea (born February 1, 1909) is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian centenarian, bass-baritone singer of gospel music and the composer of several hymns and hymn tunes. Shea has often been described as, "America's Beloved Gospel Singer," and is considered, "the first international singing 'star' of the gospel world," as a consequence of his solos on the Billy Graham Crusades, and his exposure on radio, records, and television.