Ricky Dillard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ricky Dillard
Dillard in 2018
Background information
Birth name	Ricky Rydell Dillard
Also known as	Dr. Ricky Dillard
Born	(1965-02-25) February 25, 1965 (age 60) Chicago, Illinois
Genres	Contemporary Christian music, gospel, Christian R&B, urban contemporary gospel, black gospel, contemporary R&B, house music
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	vocals
Years active	1987–present
Labels	Muscle Shoals, Malaco, Crystal Rose, EMI Gospel, Light Records, Entertainment One, D.J. International Records, Trax Records, Jack Trax, Motown Gospel
Associated acts	New Generation Chorale, New Generation, New "G", New G, Milton Brunson, Tiff Joy, Hezekiah Walker, Donald Lawrence, O'landa Draper, Karen Clark Sheard, Farley "Jackmaster" Funk, Larry Heard, Tamela Mann, Keith "Wonderboy" Johnson, Kim Burrell

Ricky Rydell Dillard (born February 25, 1965) is a famous American gospel singer, songwriter, and choir director. He is known for his powerful voice and leading his choir, New G.

Dillard began his music career in 1987. He first made a name for himself in the Chicago house music scene. Later, he became a star in Christian music. His first gospel album was called Promise.

Over his long career, Dillard has released many successful albums. All of his Christian albums have appeared on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. He has also been nominated for two Grammy Awards, one of the highest honors in music.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Ricky Dillard was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois. His love for gospel music started at a very young age, thanks to his mother and grandmother. He grew up singing in his church choir. By the time he was five, he was already singing for the congregation.

His talent was clear early on. He soon got the chance to direct the youth choir at his church. In 1981, he even started the first gospel choir at his high school, Bloom High School.

While working regular jobs, he performed on weekends with a professional group called Love, Salvation & Devotion. In 1984, he graduated from high school and joined a well-known choir, the Thompson Community Singers.

Music Career

Starting in House Music

Before becoming a gospel star, Dillard started his recording career in 1987 in Chicago house music. This is a type of electronic dance music. He worked with famous producers like Farley "Jackmaster" Funk and Larry Heard. In 1989, he released his first album, Let The Music Use You.

Switch to Gospel Music

In 1988, Dillard founded his own gospel choir, called Ricky Dillard's New Generation Chorale. In 1990, they released their first gospel album, Promise. It was a big success, reaching No. 15 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. This album also earned him his first Grammy Award nomination.

Throughout the 1990s, Dillard and his choir released several hit albums. These included A Holy Ghost Take-Over (1993), Hallelujah (1995), and Worked It Out (1996). Each album was a success and landed on the gospel charts.

Continued Success in the 2000s and Beyond

Dillard's success continued into the new century. He released more popular albums like No Limit (2000) and Unplugged (2004). His 2011 album, Keep Living, was a major hit. It reached No. 3 on the Gospel Albums chart and even appeared on the famous Billboard 200 chart.

His 2014 album, Amazing, was even more successful. It hit No. 1 on the Gospel Albums chart and earned him his second Grammy nomination. In 2019, he signed with the famous Motown Gospel record label. His albums Choirmaster (2020) and Breakthrough: The Exodus (2022) were also very popular.

In 2024, he released the album Choirmaster II, which also topped the charts.

Major Achievements and Awards

Ricky Dillard is one of the most celebrated artists in gospel music. Every one of his gospel albums has been a chart success.

Grammy Nominations

The Grammy Awards are among the most important awards in the music industry. Ricky Dillard has been nominated twice.

• 1992: Nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for Promise.
• 2015: Nominated for Best Gospel Album for Amazing.

Stellar Awards

The Stellar Awards are the biggest awards in gospel music. Dillard has won many of them. In 2015, he was nominated for nine awards for his album Amazing.

In 2021, his choir was named Traditional Choir of the Year. In 2022, he won four awards, including the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award. This special award honored his incredible career in gospel music.

Discography