Gospel singer and Winchester native George Beverly Shea is being honoured with a lifetime achievement award at this year's Grammy Awards.

PHOTO CREDIT - thebluegrassspecial.com

Cornwall - Feb. 9, 2011 - A gospel singer with local roots is being honoured with a lifetime achievement award for his extensive body of work.

George Beverly Shea, a Winchester native, will be honoured with a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy - the custodians of the Grammys - during a special ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday. Shea and the other lifetime achievement award honourees will also be formally acknowledged during the televised Grammy Awards show on Sunday.

One of the most popular gospel singers of all time, the 102-year-old Shea was born in Winchester where his father, Rev. Adam J. Shea, served as a Wesleyan Methodist Church minister. As a youth, Shea and his family also spent time in Ottawa and the U.S.

The singer has an extensive recording career along with numerous television and movie appearances, however he is perhaps best known for his solo efforts in the Billy Graham Crusade events.

Shea already has one Grammy Award to his credit. He won a Grammy for best gospel recording in 1966 for his album Southland Favorites.

Shea will share the lifetime achievement award with a group of co-honourees that includes Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton, and the Ramones.

The Winchester native resides in North Carolina with his wife Karlene, however he still has a cottage in the Ottawa area.