Paul Heil, known as "the Voice" of Southern Gospel Music, has died at the age of 73.

Heil passed away suddenly after suffering a heart attack on Sunday, December 27, according to his wife, Shelia.

He was in his fifth decade of broadcasting and was the beloved host of the syndicated show, The Gospel Greats. Heil founded the show in 1980, and it currently airs on over 200 radio stations across the world, including CHVN. It also airs on several satellite stations.

Born in 1947, in Reading, PA, Heil was the son of a pastor.

Sheila, Heil's wife of 38 years, says in a note to radio stations that she is heartbroken and in shock. "This death was so sudden and I haven't really had time to process it yet," she says. 

Heil got into broadcasting while in college in the 1960s. He created a college radio network serving a dozen college radio stations in Southeastern Pennsylvania, his obituary says. He worked as an award-winning news director at WGAL Radio from 1969-1977 and WGAL TV from 1977-1979.

Passionate about Southern Gospel Music, Heil helped found the Southern Gospel Music Guild, served on the Southern Gospel Music Association Advisory Board and was a member of the Pennsylvania Southern Gospel Music Association.

He is also survived by his two sons, Jason D. Heil and Andrew T. Heil (Meredith Talbert), both of Lancaster, his brother, John T. Heil (Sue Fry), Strasburg, and a niece and nephew. Paul was a loving grandfather to his two grandchildren, Tahlia and Rhys Heil.

A funeral is scheduled for Saturday, January 2, and will be live-streamed at 9:30 a.m. CST.

The Gospel Greats will continue as scheduled at least for the next two months. This weekend's show will be one already completed by Heil, and next weekend's show will also feature him.