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1943 - 2010 (67 years)
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Name |
Sherrill (Shaun) NIELSEN |
Born |
10 Sep 1943 |
Montgomery, AL |
Gender |
Male |
_UID |
C41280456FAF47F7A2E94C5479CD1E60E6BF |
Died |
10 Dec 2010 |
Cullman, AL |
Buried |
Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery, Tyler, TX |
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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.
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Person ID |
I18 |
Master File |
Last Modified |
26 Jan 2011 |
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