Sherrill Nielsen Passes Away
December 13, 2010 3 Comments
Over the weekend, the news broke that Sherill Nielsen, who was the original tenor for the Imperials, passed away after a battle with cancer. Nielsen also sang with the Speers, Statesmen, and the Masters V among other groups. He had one of the most distinctive, trained sounding tenor voices that has ever been in SG. Condolences and prayers to his family as they grieve his loss this close to the Christmas holiday.
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Thank you for mentioning Sherrill Neilson’s passing. Of the Southern Gospel blogs I personall read, yours in the only thus far that has mentioned this. Are we forgetting our own, the heros that paved the way?
I too am pleased Sherrill was mentioned here. I think the problem is not so much that current fans forget SGM heroes but never knew some of them expecially if they were not featured on Gaither’s Homecomings. Sherrill’s glory years in gospel were more than 35 years ago except for a two brief periods in the 80s with the Masters V. The fact Sherrill lived in Denmark for 14 years before returning to the US was also a factor in his low profile in the 90s. I’m one of Sherrill’s biggest fans and have recordings from throughout his wonderful career. What a great voice. I had the chance to see him perform live four times — twice with Statesmen, once with Voice and once solo. He was most pleasant in a series of emails we exchanged while he was in Denmark.
Dear ones,
My dear friend Sherrill Nielsen passed away on Friday, December 10, 2010.
I met Sherrill’Shaun’Nielsen and his wife Brenda for the first time on a performance
in Zaffelaere, near Ghent, Belgium at the end of 2004 That is where we decided
to start with a Gospel Album. The first album “Jerry Deewood sings with and from
Shaun Nielsen” was released in 2006 at the premises of the fabulous Sun Studio,
Memphis, Tennessee, where all recordings took place. The album hit all major
websites worldwide and even became a 7 months long Top 20 Favorite and a
Hot Top CD Review of the Southern Gospel News, a worldauthority. Not long afterwards,
a new album was realized in the Kelley road Studio, Memphis Tenn. and released in 2010.
This album almost got the same title as the first but we added “& Friends. Again the
album was good for a worldwide interest and in an amazing good interview on
‘Blues Again’, I clearly stated that Sherrill had a major influence on my singing career
if not THE major influence. Each album was good for 7 songs of Sherrill and one
song from myself. So, we spent a lot of time together, in spite of his many obligations
and performances in the States and in Europe. On this occasions he performed as a
duo with his devoted wife Brenda.
It was a real pleasure to see how we figured out what must be done. As we got further
into association I experienced Sherrill as a man with a great sense of humour, giving
so much and never asking something back, but most of all I knew him as a brother in
arms. That’s what we really were: brothers in arms, for the good music from rock over
blues to gospel and for the good cause.
So, I’m asking myself over and over again: Sherrill why do you have to leave us so soon?
I know for sure, that I’m gonna miss you for the rest of my days. May the music we
made together, and the songs we sang together, be your legacy for all those who understand.
Your devoted friend,
Jerry Deewood Bruges BELGIUM Europe