Ricky Dillard

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 an eight-time Grammy nominee, and winner of 11 Stellar Awards, two Dove Awards, an NAACP Image Award, and countless other awards and honors. Ricky Dillard continues to push the mark with chart breaking music, along with his energetic choir New Generation Chorale, known as “New G.”

Dillard continues to make gospel choir music relevant. Having recorded thirteen gospel albums, which have charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. Under Motown Gospel, Dillard has released three chart-topping albums with the most recent album “Choirmaster II” debuting at #1 on Top US Gospel Album and Top US Christian/Gospel Album, as well as the single “Hold On” reaching #1 gospel song on Billboard and Mediabase. This year, Dillard has been nominated for two Grammy Awards - Best Gospel Performance/Song “Hold On” and Best Gospel Album “Choirmaster II (Live). He also received seven Stellar Awards nominations for the Choirmaster II album and won awards for Traditional Choir of the Year and Choir of the Year. In 2022, Dillard received the Stellar Award’s highest honor, the James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Award. He also was nominated for two 2024 Dove Award nominations-- Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year for the single “When I Think” and Traditional Gospel Album of the Year for Choirmaster II.

Recently, Dillard served as the gospel music arranger for the film/musical adaption of The Color Purple starring Fantasia, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and more –– to which he brought a wealth of experience and musical expertise. His unparalleled expertise in the genre, coupled with his profound understanding of the emotional and spiritual depth embedded in gospel music, made him the ideal collaborator for this iconic production. Dillard was featured in a cameo appearance as the Piano Man in the film during the very first scene. Dillard also has been featured in the movies “A Christmas Prayer,” “Leap of Faith,” “Fighting Temptation,” and served as the music talent consultant on Sister Act II.

Dillard and New G have been the featured guest on several television shows including multiple Stellar Award shows, “Sunday Best” with Kirk Franklin, BET Gospel Superfest, Black Music Honors, and the featured 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." Most recently, Dillard appeared on Fox & Friends “Faith & Friends Concert Series.”

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, Jennifer Hudson, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Patti LaBelle, Queen Latifah, Debbie Allen, Natalie Cole, Diana Reeves, Albertina Walker, Chaka Khan, Casandra Wilson, Faith Evans, just to name a few. Dillard’s impact on gospel music has even been an influence internationally, and most recently he was the featured guest for workshops and concerts in France and Kenya. Dillard continues to be an innovator as he shares his gift of gospel music with the world, making an immeasurable mark on the industry and inspiring generations to come.