Ricky Dillard

Ricky Rydell Dillard (born February 25, 1965) is an American gospel songwriter, singer, and choir director. He started his music career, in 1987, as a Chicago house musician. His first Christian music album was Promise, by Muscle Shoals Records. His next album, A Holy Ghost Take-Over, was released in 1993 by Malaco Records. The subsequent album, Hallelujah, was released by them in 1995. Crystal Spring Records released, 1996's Work It Out, 2000's No Limit, and Unplugged in 2004. With EMI Gospel, he released, 7th Episode, that came out in 2007. He released, Keep Living, with Light Records in 2011. His next release, AMAZING, came out in 2014 with Entertainment One Music.

All of his Christian albums charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. His No Limit album charted on the Christian Albums chart, and the album Unplugged charted on the Independent Albums chart along with the releases Keep Living, and AMAZING that also charted on The Billboard 200. He was nominated at the Grammy Awards twice, the first time in the Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album category at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards for Promise, and the second time would come at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in the category Best Gospel Album for Amazing.

Early life Dillard was born on February 25, 1965, in Chicago Heights, Illinois, as Ricky Rydell Dillard. His mother and grandmother imparted to him a love of gospel music, and he was raised in the church, singing in the choir at the age of five years, and eventually got the opportunity to direct the youth choir at St. Bethel Baptist Church. In 1981, he formed the first gospel choir at Bloom High School. Around that time, while working as a front desk clerk and later as a file clerk, he performed in a professional Backup band called Love, Salvation & Devotion (LSD) on the weekends. He also worked with deep house pioneer Larry Heard, who was the main producer of Dillard's first album, Let The Music Use You, which was released on Jack Trax in 1989. It charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart at No. 15, and was being nominated at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album category. His second album, A Holy Ghost Take-Over, was released by Malaco Records on May 20, 1993. It charted on the Gospel Albums chart at No. 3. and it charted at No. 10 on the Gospel Album chart. and again this would chart on the Top Gospel Albums at No. 8. and this charted on two Billboard chart the Gospel Albums at No. 10 and Christian Albums at No. 32. which this charted on the Gospel Albums at No. 9, and this time around charted on the Independent Albums at No. 49. and this charted at No. 7 on the Gospel Albums chart. which this charted on the Gospel Albums at No. 3, Independent Albums at No. 9, and on The Billboard 200 at No. 58. and this album charted on The Billboard 200 at No. 28, No. 5 on the Independent Albums, while placing at the top of the Gospel Albums chart. On September 28, 2019, he recorded his 11th album, Choirmaster. Choirmaster was released on May 1, 2020. Choirmaster was nominated for two awards at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. Dillard also won Traditional Choir of The Year at the 36th Annual Stellar Awards. On July 9, 2021, Dillard recorded his second album with Motown Gospel, 13th of all albums, and 12th gospel album. On September 9, Dillard released his first single from the upcoming album "All of My Help". The song played at the top of every hour on all iHeartRadio gospel stations. On September 17, Dillard released the single on all music streaming platforms. A second single was released, entitled "Behold Christ the Lord", on October 29, 2021, on every music streaming platform. Since then he has released three more singles, "Breakthrough", "He Won't Fail" and "Making Room" on December 2, December 9, and January 6, respectively. On January 21, 2022, Dillard released his "Breakthrough: The Exodus" album. He later appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show singing "All of My Help" on February 22. He was nominated for several Dove Awards and won for "Traditional Gospel Album of the Year". On September 9th, 2023, Dr. Dillard and New G, his choir, recorded their 13th album in Liberty Township, Ohio, just outside of Cincinnati. Dr. Dillard was honored with Congressional Recognition for 35 years of gospel music excellence by The Honorable Sheila Jackson-Lee. On November 3rd, he released the single from the recording titled "Hold On". A month later on December 1, he released a second single titled "When I Think". The full album titled "Choirmaster II" will be released on January 26, 2024. Ricky Dillard, in partnership with Ron Carter, recorded "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" at Fellowship Chicago Church in November 2025, and was consequently released in February 2026. The record blended Hymns and Traditional Gospel, with Jazz and R&B.

Discography

+ List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions USUSGosUSIndieUSChristLet the Music Use You Released: 1989 Label: Jack Trax Formats: LP, CD – – – –The Promise Released: July 5, 1991 Label: Muscle Shoals Formats: CD, digital download – 15 – –A Holy Ghost Take-Over Released: May 20, 1993 Label: Malaco Formats: CD, digital download – 3 – –Hallelujah! Released: May 2, 1995 Label: Malaco Formats: CD, digital download – 10 – –Worked It Out Released: October 15, 1996 Label: Crystal Spring Formats: CD, digital download – 8 – –No Limit Released: July 18, 2000 Label: Crystal Spring Formats: CD, digital download – 10 – 32Unplugged: The Way Church Used to Be Released: March 16, 2004 Label: Crystal Spring Formats: CD, digital download – 9 49 –7th Episode: Live in Toronto Released: October 2, 2007 Label: EMI Gospel Formats: CD, digital download – 7 – –Keep Living Released: April 26, 2011 Label: Light Formats: CD, digital download 58 3 9 –Amazing Released: June 10, 2014 Label: Entertainment One Formats: CD, digital download 28 1 5 –10 Released: September 15, 2017 Label: Entertainment One Formats: CD, digital download 143 1 – –Choirmaster Released: May 1, 2020 Label: Motown Gospel Formats: CD, digital download _ 2 _ _Breakthrough:The Exodus Released: January 21, 2022 Label: Motown Gospel Formats: CD, digital download _ 6 _ _Choirmaster ll: Live in Liberty Township, Ohio Released: January 26, 2024 Label: Motown Gospel Formats: CD, digital download _ 8 _ _Sweet, Sweet Spirit Released: February 6, 2026 Label: Motown Gospel Formats: CD, digital download _ 11 _ _

Awards and nominations GMA Dove Awards The Dove Awards are awarded annually by the Gospel Music Association. Dillard has been inducted into the Hall of Fame and has also received 2 awards from 13 nominations. Year Category Work Result 2008 Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "The Light" (with New G) 2012 "God Is Great" (with New G) 2014 "Amazing" (with New G) 2015 Traditional Gospel Album of the Year Amazing (with New G) 2018 10 (with New G) Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "I Survived It" (with New G) 2021 Traditional Gospel Album of the Year Choirmaster (with New G) 2022 Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live) (with New G) Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "All Of My Help (Live)" (with New G) 2023 "It Is Well" (as songwriter) 2024 "When I Think (Live)" (with New G) Traditional Gospel Album of the Year Choirmaster II: Live in Liberty Township, Ohio(with New G) 2025 Gospel Music Hall of Fame Himself Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year "When I Think (Radio Edit / Live)"

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Dillard has received 8 nominations. Year Category Work Result 1992 Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album The Promise 2005 Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album Unplugged... The Way Church Used To Be (with New G) 2015 Best Gospel Album Amazing (Live) (with New G) 2021 Choirmaster Best Gospel Performance/Song "Release (Live)" 2023 Best Gospel Album Breakthrough: The Exodus (Live) 2025 Choirmaster II (Live) Best Gospel Performance/Song "Hold On (Live)"

Stellar Awards The Stellar Awards are awarded annually by SAGMA. Dillard has received 1 honorary award and 14 competitive awards from 41 nominations. Year Category Work Result 2001 Choir of the Year No Limit (with New G) Contemporary Choir of the Year 2005 Unplugged: the Way Church Used To Be (with New G) Male Vocalist of the Year 2009 Choir of the Year The 7th Episode: Live in Toronto (with New G) Contemporary Choir of the Year Artist of the Year CD of the Year 2012 Choir of the Year Keep Living (with New G) Traditional CD of the Year Traditional Choir of the Year Music Video of the Year – Long Form "Keep Living" (with New G) 2015 Choir of the Year Amazing (with New G) Traditional CD of the Year Traditional Choir of the Year Artist of the Year CD of the Year Male Vocalist of the Year Producer of the Year Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year 2018 Choir of the Year 10 (with New G) Traditional CD of the Year Traditional Choir of the Year Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year 2021 Traditional Choir of the Year Choirmaster Choir of the Year 2022 James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award Himself Choir of the Year Breakthrough: The Exodus Traditional Choir of the Year Traditional Male Artist of the Year Song of the Year "All My Help" 2024 Choir of the Year Choirmaster II Traditional Choir of the Year Album of the Year Traditional Album of the Year Traditional Artist of the Year Traditional Male Artist of the Year 2025 Choir of the Year When I Think Traditional Choir of the Year 2026 Traditional Duo/Chorus Group of the Year Sweet, Sweet Spirit (with Ron Carter) Traditional Album of the Year Special Event Album of the Year