Sherrill (Shaun) NIELSEN

Male 1943 - 2010  (67 years)


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  • Name Sherrill (Shaun) NIELSEN 
    Born 10 Sep 1943  Montgomery, AL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _UID C41280456FAF47F7A2E94C5479CD1E60E6BF 
    Died 10 Dec 2010  Cullman, AL Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery, Tyler, TX Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • Sherrill started his singing career at the age of 4 singing in his local Nazarene Church in Montgomery, AL, where Mom and Dad Speer attended. Sherrill started his professional music career at the tender age of 14. He won the Mr. America Youth Singer at the Coliseum in Montgomery, AL. At age 15, he cut his first solo LP ? A Name I Highly Treasure.

      He attended Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, TN. He then proudly served his country serving in the Air Force with the Air Force Strategic Command Band, Omaha, NE.

      In 1961, he joined the Singing Speer Family. While with the Singing Speer Family he was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. This was the stepping stone for his legendary 50 plus year career in Southern Gospel Music. Sherrill teamed up with Jake Hess and formed the Illustrious Imperial Quartet, which won him another induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.

      In late 1966, Sherrill moved to California and re-joined the Songfellows Quartet headed up by Bob Jones, Sr. He then moved on to the Plainsmen who was working with Gov. Jimmie Davis. Then had a solo career and later put together a group that Elvis later named VOICE. He was singing at the Grand Ole Opry when he got the call from the Elvis Presley Assn. to become Elvis? backup singer. He stayed with Elvis, as a solo act, up until Elvis? death in 1977.

      Sherrill Nielsen (1975 - 1977) - sang with both the Imperials and Voice (see above), and in 1975 began backing Elvis on stage, often as a "guest lead vocal", like on "O Sole Mio / It's Now Or Never", and "Softly As I Leave You". He was also present at Elvis' last Graceland recording sessions (October 29 - November 1, 1976).

      In 1990, Sherrill moved to his grandfather?s homeland of Denmark and stayed there for 14 years. While residing in Denmark, he began writing gospel music; he introduced Southern Gospel Music to the churches, performed concerts and traveled all over Europe. In 2004, he got a life changing e-mail from Houston, TX and moved to Houston in June, 2004. The life changing message was from his first love, Brenda Hall, whom he married in December 1963. They went their separate ways in 1967 and 40 years after the fact, the two love birds got back together, remarried and thus, he put VOICE back together.

      He received two Legendary Awards for his dedication to gospel music, a Proclamation from the Governor of Alabama, and in June 2011 was scheduled to be honored by the Music City Gospel Showcase as ?As Pioneer and Legendary Performer?. In March, 2010, Sherrill was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. He lived his life with dignity and lived his life to the fullest.

      Sherrill, an undisputed legend in gospel music, is the only person to be inducted into the gospel music hall of fame as a member of 3 different groups, The Speer Family, The Imperials and the Statesmen.
    Person ID I18  Master File
    Last Modified 26 Jan 2011 

    Father Charlie WHITAKER,   b. 08 Oct 1921, Tazewell Co. VA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 02 Sep 2013, Windsor, Hartford Co. CT Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 91 years) 
    Mother Virginia Evelyn Jackson 
    Family ID F14  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Brenda Hall 
    Children 
     1. SherRee Elicia NIELSEN,   b. 31 Oct 1965,   d. 06 Nov 1985  (Age 20 years)
    Last Modified 26 Jan 2011 
    Family ID F6091  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart