George Beverly Shea’s family confirmed that he passed away yesterday evening. He was 104, and had been hospitalized with a stroke earlier this week.

He began his recording and radio performance career in the 1930s. He joined the Billy Graham crusade team in 1947, and would remain associated with Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for the next fifty-five years. Through his singing career, it is estimated that he sang to more than 220 million people live and in person. He has held the Guinness Book of World Records title for performing to more people live than any other person.

His impact on Southern Gospel is extensive; among other things, he co-wrote “I’d Rather Have Jesus” and popularized both “How Great Thou Art” and “To God Be the Glory.”

Two years ago, I attended a Gaither Homecoming taping. Shea was there, and, at 102, he got the strongest response of the night. 

UPDATE, 4/17/13, 8:45 PM: Shea’s funeral will be this Sunday at 3 P.M. at Anderson Auditorium in Montreat, North Carolina. It will be open to the public.

IMC Concerts (Landon Beene) and Showcase Management (Brian Hudson) have partnered together to put on a Cathedrals Family Reunion event this fall. Here is the video announcement:

The event will be held on November 8-9, 2013 at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s 3500-seat MacGorman Performing Arts Center. There will be two evening concerts featuring Mark Trammell, Gerald Wolfe, Scott Fowler, Danny Funderburk, Ernie Haase, and their groups (Mark Trammell Quartet, Greater Vision, Legacy Five, and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound). There will also be a Saturday morning session featuring Cathedral Quartet road stories. Ticket packages for the three sessions range from $59 (balcony) to $99 (artist circle) and will go on sale on June 3rd, here.

Mark Trammell, Gerald Wolfe, Scott Fowler, and Danny Funderburk have performed together before, but this is the first event of this nature to include Ernie Haase.

The Cathedral Trio started fifty years ago this year (and became a quartet the following year). This event will be a fitting way to mark the anniversary.

What is the most popular Southern Gospel video on YouTube?

Also, since conversions from a DVD/VHS to a YouTube video all too often aren’t sanctioned by the owners of the original copyright, what is the most popular Southern Gospel amateur video on YouTube (i.e., handheld as opposed to being from a DVD)?

In that latter category, I’ll offer Ellen G.’s Bass Singers Quartet video, at 533,373 views, to start things off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v7YIgitW9g

And in the category of professionally filmed videos, let’s start things off with the Gaither Vocal Band’s “Alpha and Omega,” at 2,702,359 views: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBPaa9ycuUw

Absolutely Gospel is reporting that George Beverly Shea has been hospitalized with a stroke. He is 104 years old.

UPDATE, 4/16/13, 11 AM: Shea’s official Facebook posted this update: “Thank you to everyone for your kind comments, thoughts and prayers. I am resting comfortably with family and friends in God’s amazing grace.”

UPDATE, 4/17/13, last night: Shea has passed away.