One of the most well known voices in gospel music of the last 60 years has gone silent.

George Beverly Shea, the soloist for most of Billy Graham’s crusades, died Tuesday after a brief illness at the age of 104.

Shea, known for his renditions of “How Great Thou Art” and “The Wonder of it All”, first sang for Billy Graham in 1943 during a Chicago radio program. He then became the voice that preceded Graham’s sermons at nearly every crusade for the next 50 years.

Rev. Billy Graham released a statement about the passing of his long time ministry partner:

“I first met Bev Shea while in Chicago when he was on Moody Radio. As a young man starting my ministry, I asked Bev if he would join me. He said yes and for over 60 years we had the privilege of ministering together across the country and around the world. Bev was one of the most humble, gracious men I have ever known and one of my closest friends. I loved him as a brother.”

Shea was only 23 years old when he wrote one of the most popular hymns in the last 100 years, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.”

“Even though Bev was 10 years older than my father, he never acted his age,” Franklin Graham told Fox News. “He was absolute fun to be with. Bev was one of the most gracious and unassuming men I have known. He was always encouraging and supportive, a man of deep faith and strong commitment to Jesus Christ.”