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BOB ABERNETHY<\/strong>, host: At this weekend\u2019s 53rd annual Grammy awards, the Recording Academy honors the best in the music industry. Among this year\u2019s recipients is legendary gospel singer George Beverly Shea, who is receiving a lifetime achievement award. Beginning in 1947, Shea was the featured soloist at Billy Graham crusades. Last week, he turned 102. Kim Lawton spoke with him.<\/p>\n KIM LAWTON<\/strong>, correspondent: At 102, George Beverly Shea still sings as often as he can. He says singing is an important part of his spiritual practice.<\/p>\n GEORGE BEVERLY SHEA<\/strong>: You know, you keep tuned up with the Lord when you love the songs that are written about Him.<\/p>\n LAWTON<\/strong>: Shea and his wife, Karlene, live in Montreat, North Carolina, near their longtime friend, Billy Graham. A Canadian pastor\u2019s son, Shea says music was always part of his life. He was working at a Christian radio station in Chicago in the 1940s when his baritone voice caught Graham\u2019s attention.<\/p>\n LAWTON<\/strong>: That began a relationship that has lasted more than 60 years. Shea sang at almost every Graham crusade. Shea says it was a privilege to be on the Graham team. He says his favorite part of the crusades was watching all the people stream forward after Graham gave the altar call.<\/p>\n SHEA<\/strong>: Your head is supposed to be bowed in prayer, but I like to say I peeked a little bit, and I saw those thousands of people all during those 63 years coming forward.<\/p>\n LAWTON<\/strong>: According to Guinness World Records, Shea has sung before more people than anyone else\u2014an estimated combined live audience of 220 million people.<\/p>\n SHEA<\/strong>: They didn\u2019t come to hear me. They came to hear Billy Graham.<\/p>\n LAWTON<\/strong>: During his 80-year career, Shea recorded more than 70 albums and wrote several popular worship songs. He was nominated 10 times for a Grammy and won in 1965. He\u2019ll accept the Lifetime Achievement Award along with several other music greats, including Julie Andrews, Dolly Parton, and the Ramones.<\/p>\n SHEA<\/strong>: Someone said, \u201cWhy have you been doing this all these years?\u201d I put my thumb up to the air toward heaven, and I said I\u2019ve been doing it for Him.<\/p>\n LAWTON<\/strong>: Shea says his faith keeps him going, and he sees every day as a gift.<\/p>\n SHEA<\/strong>: I don\u2019t know when heaven will loom up for me, but we have to look forward to it. I hope there will be an organ up there to play. Oh, boy, I love organ music.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Kim Lawton reporting.<\/p>\n![\"post01-georgebeverlyshea\"](\"https:\/\/pbs-wnet-preprod.digi-producers.pbs.org\/wnet\/religionandethics\/files\/2011\/02\/post01-georgebeverlyshea.jpg\")
SHEA<\/strong>: Mr. Graham phoned me and then wrote me and asked me in 1947 to become a part of his team: \u201cSing a little quiet song before I speak.\u201d<\/p>\n