A Quick Sketch of Canada's George Beverly Shea Quiz

Answer: Ontario

George Beverly Shea was born in in Winchester, Ontario. The community, now part of the Township of North Dundas and formed by amalgamation in 1998, is about 50 kilometres (about 30 miles) from Ottawa.

According to Wikipedia, the village was originally settled by Ben Bates in 1835 and was first called Bates Corners. By 1855, Winchester had a post office, general store, blacksmith shop, a carriage maker and a farm produce business, Wikipedia reports.

Shea was born February 1, 1909, and was the son of Reverend A. J. Shea and Maude Whitney Shea. Wikipedia reports Shea's first public singing was in the choir of his father's Wesleyan Methodist Church.

Winchester is also the home of two other notable Canadians. They are Larry Robinson, a legendary defenceman with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League and Dewey Martin, a drummer with the rock band Buffalo Springfield.

Incidentally, the world's largest nickel is a roadside attraction in Sudbury, and Manitoulin Island, situated in the northern part of Lake Huron, is the world's largest freshwater island. The Maple Leafs represent Toronto, the capital of Ontario, in the National Hockey League.

Answer: Ottawa

Annesley College was in Ottawa, capital of Canada. George Beverly Shea, in the biography titled 'Tell Me the Story' by Paul Davis, states Annesley was an incredibly small college with about 100 students, "although it majored highly on Christian values." Davis writes the college had a "fated future" as a couple of generations later, it was demolished and turned into a gas station.

Shea attended Annesley for two years, beginning in 1926, before going on to study at Houghton College in Houghton, New York. However, Shea had to drop out of Houghton in 1929 due to lack of funds, according to Davis' book.

Answer: Billy Graham

George Beverly Shea met up with a young pastor in Chicago by the name of Billy Graham. "From 1938 to 1944, Shea was an announcer and staff soloist at WMBI radio in Chicago and while in this position, he met a young pastor named Billy Graham in 1943," states the Website Georgebeverlysheamemorial.org. "Graham had taken over a radio program called 'Songs in the Night' at Chicago's WCFL, and, having recalled hearing Shea's radio singing, enlisted him to help with the broadcast".

Shea and Graham would become best friends and work together for the next seven decades. Shea served with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association from 1947 to 2013.

Answer: True

True. It might come as a surprise to some, but George Beverly Shea has easily performed in front of more people than the likes of the Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. It is estimated he has had a cumulative live audience of 220 million people in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Shea would perform nightly at crusades of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, often with more than 50,000 people in attendance. Any given Billy Graham Crusade would take place over a number of days in a particular city and no sooner was it done, Shea would be off to perform nightly at another crusade in another city.

"As the musical mainstay in Graham's crusades, Shea was often called 'America's beloved Gospel singer,'" Wikipedia reports.

Answer: Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording

In 1966, George Beverly Shea won the Grammy for 'Best Gospel or Other Religious Recording'. Shea won the Grammy for his 1965 recording titled 'Southland Favorites' with the Anita Kerr Quartet providing back-up. Over the years, the Canadian born singer would be nominated for ten Grammys.

Shea would go on to win a long list of awards over the years.

Here are some of the highlights as provided by Wikipedia:
-- "In 1978, he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association and for his lifelong contribution to gospel music.
-- "On 18 February 1982 Shea was awarded the Gold Angel Award for Country Music award by Religion in Media in Hollywood, California.
-- "The Christian Holiness Association (now Christian Holiness Partnership) presented Shea its Christian Service Award in 1993.
-- "In 1996 the association of National Religious Broadcasters voted Shea into its 'Religious Broadcasting Hall of Fame.'
-- "On September 11, 1999, Shea received the Integrity Award from Marketplace Ministries in Dallas, Texas.
-- "In 2004, Shea received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gospel Music Association Canada (GMA Canada).
-- "In 2007, he was presented the Edwin P. Hubble Medal of Initiative, the highest honor of the city of Marshfield, Missouri by friend Reverend Nicholas W. Inman. Shea sang at the dedication of the Billy Graham Library the following day.
-- "On February 12, 2011, Shea received the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award alongside Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, the Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton and the Ramones at a ceremony held at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in Los Angeles, California."

According to the Website Georgebeverlysheamemorial.org, there were numerous other awards Shea won, many of them not of international or national significance. However, I suspect there was one small-town award Shea received he was especially proud of. In 2009 he received an award for Exceptional Service from the Salvation Army in his hometown of Winchester, Ontario, Canada.

Answer: I'd Rather Have Jesus

The correct answer is 'I'd Rather Have Jesus'. According to the Website Georgebeverlysheamemorial.org, a poem entitled 'I'd Rather Have Jesus' had been left on the family piano by Shea's mother, and after reading the words he sat at the piano and composed the tune.

According to Hymnary.org, Rhea F. Miller was born in 1894 in Brooktondale, New York, about eight miles out of Ithaca. The Website reports she wrote the poem 'I'd Rather Have Jesus' as a tribute to her father who had been an alcoholic, but after after receiving Jesus as his personal Savior and Lord, was "delivered" from his bondage.

Here are the words to the old-time classic 'I'd Rather Have Jesus'.

"I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I'd rather be His than have riches untold;
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
Or be held in sin's dread sway;
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;
I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I'd rather be true to His holy name

[Refrain]

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He's sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He's all that my hungering spirit needs;
I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

[Refrain]"

Incidentally, 'Amazing Grace' was written by John Newton in 1779, while 'Holy, Holy, Holy' was written by Reginald Heber in 1826 and 'The Old Rugged Cross' was written by George Bennard in 1912.

Answer: The Wonder of It All

George Beverly Shea wrote the words to 'The Wonder of It All' and recorded it as well.

Here are the words to Shea's hymn 'The Wonder of It all'.

"There's the wonder of sunset at evening.
The wonder as sunrise I see;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that God loves me.

Refrain:
Oh, the wonder of it all,
The wonder of it all
Just to think that God loves me!
The wonder of it all,
The wonder of it all -
Just to think that God loves me!

There's the wonder of springtime and harvest;
The sky, the stars, the sun;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is the wonder that's only begun.

Refrain:
Oh, the wonder of it all,
The wonder of it all
Just to think that God loves me!
The wonder of it all,
The wonder of it all -
Just to think that God loves me!

There's the wonder of God's revelation,
The Word who dwelt amongst men;
But the wonder of wonders that thrills my soul
Is that Jesus is coming again.

Refrain:
Oh, the wonder of it all,
The wonder of it all
Just to think that God loves me!
The wonder of it all,
The wonder of it all -
Just to think that God loves me!"

Shea also wrote and recorded 'Sing Me A Song of Sharon's Rose', 'I Love Thy Presence, Lord', as well as other hymns.

As stated in the answer to Question 6, 'Amazing Grace' was written by John Newton in 1779. Meanwhile, 'Silent Night' was written by Joseph Mohr in 1818 and 'To God Be the Glory' was written by Fanny Crosby, circa 1872.

Answer: How Great Thou Art

'How Great Thou Art' was George Beverly Shea's signature tune at crusades of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. After a crusade in 1954, Billy Graham made 'How Great Thou Art' a fixture at his crusades with Shea called upon to belt out the lyrics.

Yes, the answer to the question is Shea is most associated with 'How Great Thou Art', but the truth of the matter is he is associated with a seemingly endless list of other hymns. According to the Website Georgebeverlysheamusic.com, here is a list of hymns he recorded over the years.

'A Beautiful Life'
'A Child Of The King'
'A Cloud By Day'
'A Man Named Moses'
'A Shelter In The Time Of Storm'
'Acres Of Diamonds'
'Adoration'
'All Is Well'
'All My Life'
'All My Life Long'
'All That Thrills My Soul'
'All The Way My Savior Leads Me'
'Amazing Grace'
'America The Beautiful'
'An Evening Prayer'
'And Can It Be?'
'Away In The Manger'
'Battle Hymn Of The Republic'
'Be Still My Soul'
'Be Thou My Vision'
'Beautiful Isle'
'Beautiful Valley Of Eden'
'Because'
'Because He Lives'
'Beside The Still Waters'
'Beyond The Sunset'
'Bless This House'
'Blessed Assurance'
'Blue Galilee'
'Break Thou The Bread Of Life'
'Bringing In The Sheaves'
'But This One thing I Know'
'Calvary'
'Child Of The King'
'Christ Is A Wonderful Savior'
'Christ The Lord Is Risen Today'
'C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S'
'Christmas Star'
'Christmas, Christmas'
'Close To Thee'
'Come Unto Me When Shadows Darkly Gather'
'Come With Your Heartache'
'Command And I'll Pray'
'Count Your Blessings'
'Day By Day'
'Day Is Dying In The West'
'Dear Little Stranger'
'Deep River'
'Did You Think To Pray?'
'Do Lord (Do Remember Me)'
'Does Jesus Care'
'Every Time I Feel The Spirit'
'Face To Face'
'Fairest Lord Jesus'
'Faith Of Our Fathers'
'Fill My Cup, Lord'
'Flee As A Bird'
'Follow Me'
'Follow, I Will Follow Thee'
'For The Beauty Of The Earth'
'Forgive Me My Friend'
'Forty Long Years'
'From Every Stormy Wind That Blows'
'Gentle Shepherd'
'Go Down, Moses'
'Go Tell It On The Mountain'
'God Is Ever Beside Me'
'God Is So Good To Me'
'God Is Still On The Throne'
'God Moves In A Mysterious Way'
'God Of Our Fathers'
'Goin' Home'
'Good Night, Sweet Jesus'
'Goodbye Pharaoh'
'Grace Greater Than Our Sin'
'Great Is Thy Faithfulness'
'Green Pastures'
'Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah'
'Hallelujah'
'Happiness Is The Lord'
'Hark! The Herald Angels'
'Have You Ever Seen The Star?'
'He Became Poor'
'He Giveth More Grace'
'He Has Time'
'He Is No Stranger (To Our House)'
'He Leadeth Me'
'He Looked Beyond My Fault (And Saw My Need)'
'He Touched Me'
'He Washed My Eyes With Tears'
'He Whispered, 'Peace By Still''
'He Will Hold Me Fast'
'Hear O Israel'
'Heaven Came Down And Glory Filled My Soul'
'Heavenly Sunlight'
'He'll Carry You Through'
'He'll Never Let You Fall'
'He's Everything To Me'
'He's Everywhere'
'He's Got The Whole Wide World In His Hands'
'Hiding In Thee'
'His Eye Is On The Sparrow'
'Holy Spirit, Faithful Guide'
'Holy, Holy, Holy!'
'Home Is The Shepherd'
'Hope In God'
'How Big Is God'
'How Can I Be Lonely'
'How Firm A Foundation'
'How Long Has It Been?'
'I Am Not Alone'
'I Asked The Lord'
'I Believe'
'I Believe In Miracles'
'I Found The Answer'
'I Found What I Wanted (When I Found The Lord)'
'I Got A Home in-a Dat Rock'
'I Have Decided To Follow Jesus'
'I Heard God Today'
'I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say'
'I Know Where I'm Going'
'I Love Thy Presence, Lord'
'I May Never Pass This Way Again'
'I Met God In The Morning'
'I Must Tell Jesus'
'I Need Thee Every Hour'
'I Saw A Man'
'I Shall Not Be Moved'
'I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked'
'I Want To Be Ready'
'I Will Praise Him'
'I Will Pray'
'I Wonder'
'I Wonder As I Wander'
'I'd Rather Have Jesus'
'If God Isn't Real'
'If I Can Help Somebody'
'If I Could Pray Like A Child Again'
'If We Could See Beyond Today'
'I'll Be A Sunbeam'
'In The Garden'
'In The Hour Of Trial'
'In The Shadow Of His Wings'
'In The Sweet By And By'
'In The Wilderness'
'In Times Like These'
'It Came Upon A Midnight Clear'
'It Is Well With My Soul'
'It Took A Miracle'
'I've Tried In Vain'
'Ivory Palaces'
'Jacob's Ladder'
'Jesus Bids Us Shine'
'Jesus Loves Me'
'Jesus Walks Among Us'
'Jesus Was A Carpenter'
'Jesus Will Give You Rest'
'Jesus Will Walk With Me'
'Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me'
'Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho'
'Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee'
'Joyously Sang The Choirs'
'Just A Wayward Lamb'
'Just As I Am'
'Just For Today'
'Keep Your Voices Singing'
'Kneel At The Cross'
'Known Only To Him'
'Lead Kindly Light'
'Lead Me Gently Home, Father'
'Lead Me, Guide Me'
'Lead Me, Savior'
'Leave It There'
'Less Of Me'
'Let Jesus Come Into Your Heart'
'Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled'
'Let The Lower Lights Be Burning'
'Life's Railway To Heaven'
'Like A River Glorious'
'Little David (Play On Your Harp)'
'Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming'
'Lonely Voices'
'Lonesome Valley'
'Lord, I'm Coming Home'
'Lord, In The Morning'
'Memories Of Galilee'
'Mercy, Lord'
'Midian'
'Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone'
'My Cathedral'
'My Faith Looks Up To Thee'
'My Father Watches Over Me'
'My God And I'
'My Jesus, I Love Thee'
'My Lord Is Near Me All The Time'
'My Prayer'
'My Savior's Love'
'Nearer, My God, To Thee'
'Nearer, Still Nearer'
'Never Give Up'
'No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus'
'No One Understands Like Jesus'
'No, Not One'
'Not My Will'
'Now I Belong To Jesus'
'Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep'
'Now The Day Is Over'
'O Come, O Come Emmanuel'
'O Day Of Rest And Gladness'
'O Holy Night'
'O Little Town Of Bethlehem'
'O Lord Most Holy'
'O Love That Will Not Let Me Go'
'O Men From The Fields'
'O My Lovin' Brother'
'O Perfect Love'
'O Sacred Head, Now Wounded'
'O, What A Wonderful Savior'
'Oh Happy Day'
'Oh Lord, I Am Not Worthy'
'Oh, Gentle Shepherd'
'Old Time Religion'
'On Jordan's Stormy Banks'
'Once And Only Once'
'Once In Royal David's City'
'One Day At A Time'
'One Day Nearer Home'
'Only A Touch'
'Open Up Your Heart (And Let The Sunshine In)'
'Over The Sunset Mountains'
'Pass It On'
'Peace In The Valley'
'Perfect Love'
'Prayer'
'Prayer Is The Key To Heaven (Faith Unlocks The Door)'
'Precious Memories'
'Put The Christ Back Into Christmas'
'Reach For The Hand Of The Lord'
'Rock Of Ages'
'Rocked In The Cradle Of The Deep'
'Room At The Cross For You'
'Safe In The Arms Of Jesus'
'Savior, Again To Thy Dear Name'
'Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us'
'Security'
'Seven Plagues'
'Shadows So Softly Enfold Thee'
'Shall We Gather At The River'
'Shepherd Of Love'
'Ship Ahoy'
'Silent Night'
'Sing Me A Song Of Sharon's Rose'
'Singing I Go'
'Sleep Precious Babe'
'Smilin' Through'
'So Near To God'
'Softly And Tenderly'
'Soldiers Of Christ, Arise'
'Somebody Bigger Than You And I'
'Somebody Cares'
'Somebody's Knocking At Your Door'
'Something A-Burnin' In My Soul'
'Sometime!'
'Somewhere Along The Way (He'll Find You)'
'Songs In The Night'
'Stand By Me'
'Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus'
'Standing In The Need Of Prayer'
'Standing On The Promises'
'Still, Still With Thee'
'Sun Of My Soul'
'Sunrise'
'Sunshine'
'Sunshine In My Soul'
'Surely Goodness And Mercy'
'Sweet By And By'
'Sweet Hour Of Prayer'
'Sweet Little Jesus Boy'
'Sweet Peace, The Gift Of God's Love'
'Sweet, Sweet Spirit'
'Sweeter As The Years Go By'
'Take God By The Hand'
'Take My Hand'
'Take My Life And Let It Be'
'Tell It Again'
'Tell Me The Old, Old Story'
'Tender Farewell'
'Tenderly He Watches'
'Thank You'
'Thanks To God'
'That Beautiful Name'
'That Old-Fashioned Home'
'The Army Of The Lord'
'The Birthday Of A King'
'The Blind Ploughman'
'The Broken Vessel'
'The Christ Of Every Crisis'
'The Christ Of Every Road'
'The Circuit Rider'
'The Cross Is Not Greater'
'The Day Of Miracles'
'The Earth Is The Lord's'
'The Eastern Gate'
'The Garden Of My Heart'
'The Golden Calf'
'The Holy City'
'The King Is Coming'
'The King Of All Kings'
'The Last Mile Of The Way'
'The Lord Provideth'
'The Lord's My Shepherd'
'The Lord's Prayer'
'The Man'
'The Model Church'
'The New 23rd'
'The Night Watch'
'The Ninety And Nine'
'The Peace That My Savior Has Given'
'The Pearly White City'
'The Prayer Perfect'
'The Promised Land'
'The Rose Of Sharon'
'The Savior Is Waiting'
'The Shadow Of A Cross'
'The Spacious Firmament'
'The Stranger Of Galilee'
'The Ten Commandments'
'The Touch Of His Hand On Mine'
'The Unclouded Day'
'The Wayfaring Stranger'
'The Wonder Of It All'
'There Is More To Life'
'There Were Only A Few (At The Cross)'
'There's A Time'
'There's Something About That Name'
'These Are The Things That Matter'
'This Is My Father's World'
'Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne'
'Thou Light Of Life'
'Through The Years'
'Through The Years -- I Love Thee'
'Time Out For Jesus'
'To God Be The Glory'
'To My Mother'
'Under His Wings'
'Until Then'
'Unto The Hills'
'We're Marching To Zion'
'What A Day That Will Be'
'What A Friend We Have In Jesus'
'What God Hath Promised'
'When Children Pray'
'When God Is Near'
'When God Speaks'
'When I Get To The End Of The Way'
'When They Ring The Golden Bells'
'Where Could I Go?'
'Where No One Stands Alone'
'Where The Roses Never Fade'
'Whispering Hope'
'Whiter Than Snow'
' Who At My Door Is Standing'
'Who Moved?'
'Why Should He Love Me So?'
'Will Jesus Find Us Watching'
'Will The Circle Be Unbroken'
'Will You Keep That Vow?'
'Wings Of A Dove'
'With Christ As My Pilot'
'Wonderful Peace'
'Wonderful Words Of Life'
'Yes, He Did'
'You May Have The Joy Bells'
'You'll Never Walk Alone'
'You're Not Alone'
'Zion Stands With Hills Surrounded'

Answer: Psalms

The quote comes from Psalm 28:7. Psalm 28 was written by King David. As noted in the answer to Question No. 3, George Beverly Shea started performing with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1947 and it seemed age didn't slow him down. In fact, he was singing at crusades in his late 90s. According to the Website Georgebeverlysheamemorial.com, he was the featured singer at Franklin Graham Festivals in Charleston, South Carolina (2008), and Knoxville, Tenn. (2008) and at Will Graham Celebrations in Gastonia, North Carolina (2006) and Paducah, Kentucky (2007).

In his autobiography 'Just As I Am', Billy Graham had this to say about Shea: "I have sometimes said that I would feel lost getting up to preach if Bev were not there to prepare the way through an appropriate song. But I will always be grateful not only for his musical contributions to our Crusades but also for his warm spirit and his personal friendship over the years. I don't believe I've ever heard him utter an unkind or critical word about anyone."

Answer: 104

George Beverly Shea was 104 years old when he died. During that time, Canada had sixteen prime ministers and the United States had eighteen presidents. From the First World War to the War on Terrorism, and from the Great Depression to the tech boom and bust of the '90s, Shea experienced it all. For him, it seems, the only constant was his love for the Lord Jesus Christ.