Sherrill Nielsen

Jan 01, 1970
Jan 01, 1964
Jan 01, 1962

No albums list this artist in credits. You are able to edit albums and add credit info if you have created an account.

Sherrill Nielsen

Sherrill Nielsen has been a member of:

Born: 
Sep 10, 1942
Died: 
Dec 10, 2010
Aged: 
68

He was born in Montgomery, AL, to Virginia Evelyn Jackson and Charlie Whitaker. He graduated from Robert E. Lee in Montgomery, AL, and then onto 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.

Little did the world know what to expect when Sherrill was born. God gave him one of the most amazing tenor voices today. 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.”

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 assembled a group that Elvis later named “Voice.” He was singing at the Grand Ole Opry when he got the call from the Elvis Presley Association to become Elvis' backup singer. He stayed with Elvis as a solo act up until Elvis died in 1977.

It is well documented by Felton Jarvis, Elvis' producer that Sherrill was Elvis' favorite singer. In 1977, Elvis and Sherrill's duet, “Softly As I Leave You” was nominated for a Grammy as Duet of the Year. Elvis always told him, “Sherrill, God loves you, but He loves you best when you sing.”

He then joined Hovie Lister and the Sensational Statesmen. What a lineup of talent, the best of the best. Hovie Lister, Doy Ott, Jim Hill, Big Chief, and Sherrill. This earned him another induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Later, the group transitioned to the Masters V.

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, introduced Southern Gospel Music to 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 lovebirds got back together and remarried, and thus, he put Voice back together.

Sherrill and Brenda performed as a duo, traveling all over the world. Sherrill put together a premier gospel group "Sherrill Nielsen and Voice, consisting of Mike Martin, Nick Fike, Sean McCaw, and Sherrill. Sherrill's ministry has touched hearts and lives all over the world. 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 “A Pioneer and Legendary Performer.” In March 2010, Sherrill was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Dignity Memorial. (n.d.). Obituary Sherrill "Shaun" Nielsen. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/cullman-al/sherrill-nielsen-4475383

Created by: siremidor on 26-July-2010 - Last Edited by siremidor on 28-April-2024
click