Ricky Dillard

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Ricky Dillard
Dillard in 2018
Dillard in 2018
Background information
Birth nameRicky Rydell Dillard
Also known asDr. Ricky Dillard
Born (1965-02-25) February 25, 1965 (age 56)
Chicago, Illinois
GenresContemporary Christian music, gospel, Christian R&B, urban contemporary gospel, black gospel, contemporary R&B, house music
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Instrumentsvocals
Years active1987–present
LabelsMuscle Shoals, Malaco, Crystal Rose, EMI Gospel, Light Records, Entertainment One, D.J. International Records, Trax Records, Jack Trax, Motown Gospel
Associated actsNew 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 an American gospel musician. 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,[1] in Chicago, Illinois,[2] as Ricky Rydell Dillard.[3] 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.[2][4] In 1981, he formed the first gospel choir at Bloom High School.[5] 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.[5] In 1984, he joined the late Milton Brunson's Thompson Community Singers.[5] Also in 1984, he graduated from Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois.[citation needed]

Music career[]

Dillard started his recording career in 1987 in Chicago house music, to which he was introduced by the "Godfather of House", DJ Frankie Knuckles, a few years ago.[5] In this genre, he collaborated with notable record producers such as Farley "Jackmaster" Funk on It's You (D.J. International Records, 1987) and As Always (Trax Records, 1988).[6] 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.[6]

With his gospel choir Ricky Dillard's New Generation Chorale, founded in 1988,[5] Dillard released his first gospel album, Promise, on November 28, 1990, on Muscle Shoals Records.[7] It charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart at No. 15,[8] 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.[9] It charted on the Gospel Albums chart at No. 3.[8] The next album, Hallelujah with Malaco Records, released on May 2, 1995,[10] and it charted at No. 10 on the Gospel Album chart.[8] On October 15, 1996, he released Worked It Out with Crystal Springs Records,[11] and again this would chart on the Top Gospel Albums at No. 8.[8] His next album with them, No Limit, came out on July 18, 2000,[12] and this charted on two Billboard chart the Gospel Albums at No. 10 and Christian Albums at No. 32.[8] While his last release, Unplugged, on the label was released on March 16, 2004,[13] which this charted on the Gospel Albums at No. 9, and this time around charted on the Independent Albums at No. 49.[8] The next album, 7th Episode, came out on October 2, 2007 with EMI Gospel,[14] and this charted at No. 7 on the Gospel Albums chart.[8] Light Records released Keep Living on April 26, 2011,[15] which this charted on the Gospel Albums at No. 3, Independent Albums at No. 9, and on The Billboard 200 at No. 58.[8] He partnered with Entertainment One Music to release, Amazing, on June 10, 2014,[16] 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.[8] On August 13, 2019, he signed a record deal with Motown Gospel. As an agreement, Dr. Dillard and his choir, New G, did their 11th live recording.[17] On September 28, 2019, he recorded his 11th album, Choirmaster. Choirmaster was released on May 1, 2020.[18] Choirmaster was nominated for two awards at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.[19] Dillard also won Traditional Choir of The Year at the 36th Annual Stellar Awards.[20] On July 9th, Dillard recorded his second album with Motown Gospel, 13th of all albums, and 12th gospel album. On September 9th, Dillard released his first single from the upcoming album titled "All of My Help". The song played at the top of every hour on all iHeartRadio gospel stations. On September 17th, Dillard released the single on all music streaming platforms.

Success[]

Since his first gospel album Promise in 1991, all of his 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.

Ricky Dillard 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 in 1992 for Promise, and the second time at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015 in the category Best Gospel Album for Amazing.

Also in 2015, he was nominated at the 30th Stellar Awards in the following categories: Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year, Choir of the Year, Producer of the Year, Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year, Traditional CD of the Year, and Traditional Choir of the Year.[21]

Discography[]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions[8][22]
US US
Gos 		US
Indie 		US
Christ
Let 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 – 32
Unplugged: 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[23]
  • 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
 48 2 _ _

References[]

  1. ^ Dillard, Ricky (February 25, 2015). "Grateful for another birthday. No. 50". Facebook. Retrieved March 16, 2015.[non-primary source needed]
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Prato, Greg. "Ricky Dillard: Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  3. ^ "Ricky R Dillard in Chicago, IL". Intelius. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. ^ "Dr. Ricky Dillard". Christianmusic.com. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Artist profile on New Releases Today.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Discography of Ricky Dillard on Discogs.
  7. ^ "Promise – Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. July 5, 1991. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j "Ricky Dillard : Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "A Holy Ghost Take-Over – Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. May 20, 1993. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  10. ^ "Hallelujah – Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. May 2, 1995. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  11. ^ "Worked in Out – Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. October 15, 1996. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  12. ^ "No Limit – Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. July 18, 2000. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  13. ^ "Unplugged – Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. March 16, 2004. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  14. ^ "7th Episode – Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. October 2, 2007. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  15. ^ Ruhlmann, William (April 26, 2011). "Keep Living – Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  16. ^ Leggett, Steve (June 10, 2014). "Amazing – Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  17. ^ "Motown Gospel Signs Choirmaster Ricky Dillard". Gospelmusic.org. August 13, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  18. ^ http://www.hallels.com/articles/23440/20200322/ricky-dillard-returns-with-choirmaster-may-1.htm
  19. ^ https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/ricky-dillard/1856
  20. ^ https://www.thestellarawards.com/stellar-winners36.html
  21. ^ "2015 N0MINEES: 30th Stellar Awards". Thestellarawards.com. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  22. ^ [1][dead link]
  23. ^ "10 (Live) by Ricky Dillard & New G on Apple Music". iTunes Store (US). Retrieved September 16, 2017.

External links[]

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