Ricky Dillard

Ricky Dillard
Birth name Ricky Rydell Dillard
Also known as Dr. Ricky Dillard
Born February 25, 1965
Chicago, Illinois
Genres Contemporary Christian music, gospel, Christian R&B, urban contemporary gospel, black gospel contemporary R&B
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Instruments vocals, singer-songwriter
Years active 1991–present
Labels Muscle Shoals, Malaco, Crystal Rose, EMI Gospel, Light Records, Entertainment One
Associated acts New Generation Chorale, New Generation, New "G", New G, Milton Brunson
Website rickydillard.net

Ricky Rydell Dillard (born February 25, 1965) is an American gospel musician. He started his music career, in 1991, with the release of, Promise, by Muscle Shoals Records. His second album, A Holy Ghost Take-Over, was released in 1993 by Malaco Records. The next 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 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

Rydell was born on February 25, 1965,[1] in Chicago, Illinois,[2] as Ricky Rydell Dillard.[3][4] His mother and grandmother imparted to him a love of gospel music, and he was raised in the church singing in the choir at five years old, and eventually got the opportunity to direct the youth choir at St. Bethel Baptist Church.[2][5]

Music career

His music career got started in 1991, with the release of Promise on July 5, 1991 by Muscle Shoals,[6] and this charted on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart at No. 15,[7] while getting recognition by being nominated at the 34th Annual Grammy Awards in the Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album category. He release, A Holy Ghost Take-Over with Malaco Records, on May 20, 1993,[8] which charted on the Gospel Albums chart at No. 3.[7] The next album, Hallelujah with Malaco Records, released on May 2, 1995,[9] and it charted at No. 10 on the Gospel Album chart.[7] On October 15, 1996, he released Worked It Out with Crystal Springs Records,[10] and again this would chart on the Top Gospel Albums at No. 8.[7] His next album with them, No Limit, came out on July 18, 2000,[11] and this charted on two Billboard chart the Gospel Albums at No. 10 and Christian Albums at No. 32.[7] While his last release, Unplugged, on the label was released on March 16, 2004,[12] which this charted on the Gospel Albums at No. 9, and this time around charted on the Independent Albums at No. 49.[7] The next album, 7th Episode, came out on October 2, 2007 with EMI Gospel,[13] and this charted at No. 7 on the Gospel Albums chart.[7] Light Records released Keep Living on April 26, 2011,[14] which this charted on the Gospel Albums at No. 3, Independent Albums at No. 9, and on The Billboard 200 at No. 58.[7] He partnered with Entertainment One Music to release, Amazing, on June 10, 2014,[15] 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.[7] This album would get him his second nomination at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, in the category Best Gospel Album. He is 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.[16]

Discography

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions[7]
US US
Gos		 US
Indie		 US
Christ
The Promise – 15 – –
A Holy Ghost Take-Over – 3 – –
Hallelujah! – 10 – –
Worked It Out – 8 – –
No Limit – 10 – 32
Unplugged: The Way Church Used To Be – 9 49 –
7th Episode: Live In Toronto – 7 – –
Keep Living 58 3 9 –
Amazing 28 1 5 –

References

  1. ↑ Dillard, Ricky (February 25, 2015). "Grateful for another birthday. #50". Facebook. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Prato, Greg. "Ricky Dillard : Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ Broadcast Music, Inc.. "Songwriter/Composer: DILLARD RICKY R". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Ricky R Dillard in Chicago, IL". Intelius. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  5. ↑ Staff. "Dr. Ricky Dillard". ChristianMusic.com. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  6. ↑ AllMusic (July 5, 1991). "Promise - Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 Billboard. "Ricky Dillard : Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  8. ↑ AllMusic (May 20, 1993). "A Holy Ghost Take-Over - Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  9. ↑ AllMusic (May 2, 1995). "Hallelujah - Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  10. ↑ AllMusic (October 15, 1996). "Worked In Out - Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  11. ↑ AllMusic (July 18, 2000). "No Limit - Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  12. ↑ AllMusic (March 16, 2004). "Unplugged - Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  13. ↑ AllMusic (October 2, 2007). "7th Episode - Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  14. ↑ Ruhlmann, William (April 26, 2011). "Keep Living - Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  15. ↑ Leggett, Steve (June 10, 2014). "Amazing - Ricky Dillard". AllMusic. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  16. ↑ Stellar Awards. "2015 N0MINEES: 30th Stellar Awards". Central City Productions. Retrieved March 8, 2015.

External links