Tedd Smith

February 1, 2009

As pianist for the Billy Graham team for 54 years, I was privileged to accompany George Beverly Shea at the piano. My experiences with Bev, both musically and personally, were meaningful in many ways.

Besides the ministry I had with Bev in the Billy Graham Crusades, I will always remember the concerts we held for many years in major concert halls throughout the United States and Canada, as well as extended tours throughout England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and the Orient. We also worked together on recordings, television programs and hundreds of other events as diverse as providing Christmas music for the American troops in Vietnam during the Vietnam War, or accompanying Bev when he sang one night at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry.

It has been a joy to be part of Bev’s life and ministry. He has always conveyed the love of God in a voice that has touched audiences in a personal way through his gentle, clear and profound manner of singing. Bev remains a lifelong friend whose friendship I treasure.