Canadian Shea became voice of evangelist Billy Graham

MONTREAT, N. C. — Canadian- born George Beverly Shea, whose booming baritone voice echoed through stadiums, squares and souls during a decades- long career with evangelist Billy Graham, has died aged 104.

Shea’s rendition of How Great Thou Art came to define the faith of a Protestant generation Graham addressed. Shea performed live before an estimated 200 million people at crusades over the years — taking him from North Dakota to North Korea and beyond.

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.

A Canadian immigrant who became one of America’s most- recognized gospel soloists, Shea summed up his career with one of his inspirational trademarks: The Wonder of It All.

“I just thought it was such a privilege,” Shea said in January 2009.

Despite several chances to perform on the secular stage, Shea largely stuck with gospel music. He recorded dozens of albums of sacred music and was nominated for 10 Grammys. He won a Grammy for best gospel recording in 1965 for his album Southland Favorites.