Ricky Dillard “The Choir Master” has been a force in gospel music since his first recording in 1990 and since then has been ensuring that the legacy of gospel choir music continues to have a strong presence in the music industry. As a true pioneer, his influences can be seen across genres and generations. He is a multiple Grammy and Dove Award nominee and the recipient of several Stellar Awards and an NAACP Image Award. Ricky Dillard continues to push the mark with chart breaking music.
Along with his choir, New Generation Chorale “New G,” which will soon be celebrating their 34th anniversary, Dillard has continued to make gospel choir music relevant. Having recorded 13 gospel albums, Ricky most recently released two chart-topping albums under Motown Gospel; “Choirmaster” in 2020, which was nominated for two Grammy Awards and won a Stellar Award for Traditional Choir of the Year, and in 2021, “Breakthrough: The Exodus” was released and has been nominated this year for eight Stellar Awards, including Artist of the Year and Song of the Year, “All of My Help.” All of Dillard’s Christian albums have charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, and he has consistently had top charting singles, including most recently “All of My Help”, “Release”, “More Abundantly Medley,” and “Amazing” with Tiff Joy, which held the No.1 spot on the gospel radio chart for six consecutive months.
Ricky Dillard and New G have been the featured guest on several television shows including multiple Stellar Award shows, “Sunday Best” with Kirk Franklin, “The Jerry Springer Show,” and “Going Home to Gospel” with Patti LaBelle. Most recently, Ricky Dillard and New G were the special musical guest on the Kelly Clarkson Show performing his hit single "All of My Help." Clarkson showed her appreciation for the gospel luminary, describing Dillard as "a living legend." In addition, Dillard has been featured in the movies “Leap of Faith,” “Fighting Temptation,” and the music talent consultant on Sister Act II.
Dillard’s influence has inspired the sounds of acts like Kirk Franklin and Kanye West, and many more. Dillard, with his beautifully-boisterous New Generation Chorale, has been iconic in the industry for over three-decades, sharing the stage with the likes of Patti LaBelle, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Debbie Allen, Natalie Cole, Diana Reeves, Albertina Walker, Chaka Khan, Casandra Wilson, Sean Puffy Combs, Faith Evans, R. Kelly, Paula Poundstone, Bonnie Raitt, just to name a few.
Dillard continues to be an innovator as he shares his gift for gospel music with the world, making an immeasurable mark on the industry and inspiring generations to come.