:: Official Web Site  ::  www.rickydillardnewg.com/

If a poll was taken among industry insiders and fanatical followers of everything Gospel, as to who might be the most dynamic, charismatic and perhaps finest choir director of our time, I suspect Ricky Dillard’s name would finish among the Top 5, if not at the very top of a very impressive list.  His electrifying stage showmanship, coupled with his impeccable style and regal 6’4 frame, quickly grabs your attention like few others can.  Add to that his graceful swing and powerful chops, not to mention his commanding stage presence and you have the making of a complete music minister in Ricky Dillard.

Born, raised and highly symbolic of the Chicago music scene, Brother Dillard has made a name and living for himself as a musical force to be reckoned with.  Under the tutelage of Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers for nearly eight years, Ricky learned a lot about the artistry and business of managing a successful recording choir, before finally launching the New Generation Chorale, back in ’88.  His uniquely theatrical performance captures the energy, flare and spirit of Chicago church worship. While his choir’s deafening vibrato and vocal acrobatics is the examination of choral ministries across the country.

Ricky Dillard recently added to his long list of responsibilities by accepting his new role as Minister of Worship & Arts at the Tabernacle of Hope International Church of God In Christ in Atlanta, Georgia.  With his new DVD release of Unplugged scheduled for July 20^th, Ricky certainly has his plate full with both choral and church ministries to oversee.  BLACKGOSPEL.COM spoke with the young and gifted Minister Dillard about his new role in Atlanta, rumors about his final days with New G and exactly where he learned his trademark directing skills.

Christopher Heron: Ricky, you’ve earned a deserved reputation for being one of the most flamboyant and charismatic directors to ever stand before a Gospel choir.  Where did you learn your skills to direct the way you do?  And who are a few of the directors in Chicago and across the country that inspired you as a stage performer?

Ricky Dillard: I’ve been influenced by several directors, from my days as a youth up to when I started New Generation.  Watching all these directors, I’ve learned something from all of them.  Then, adding Ricky Dillard into the mix, you have what you see today.  Some of the personalities I’ve been influenced by include the choir director for the Cosmopolitan Church Of Prayer, Allen Cathey.  I was also influenced by Tyrone Block and Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, just to name a few.  These are just some of the people who influenced my life and prepared me to be the choir director I am today.

Worked It Out [LIVE]	No Limit	UnPlugged... The Way Church Used To Be
October, 1996	July, 2000	March, 2004

CH: I can remember not too long ago I heard rumors about Ricky Dillard retiring from New G to assume his new duties on the East coast as a Minister of Music.  It was a pleasant surprise to me to see that you didn’t leave the industry and were in fact returning to the forefront with the release of Unplugged.  Where do things stand right now, as far as balancing your church duties with your recording plans?

RD: Well first, I must state for the record that it was never my intention to disband New Generation at the point and time I moved to Atlanta, Georgia.  I’m not sure where that rumor came from but it never was my intention to leave behind New G.  My intention was always to continue the ministry of New Generation.  And the Lord is really expanding our ministry to the extent that we have and are still accepting new members from a number of cities and states.  We have members from Rochester and Brooklyn, New York, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Virginia and Texas.  We are extending our ministry to create a New Generation ministry in the south, as well.  Unplugged is the final album I am under contract with Crystal Rose Records.  However, I will continue to build this special music ministry, whether it’s with Crystal Rose or with another record label.

CH: Unplugged: The Way Church Used To Be really does capture the spirit and sound of the church experience in Chicago.  Tell me how that very special church experience in Chicago that’s filled with music, Holy Ghost praise and powerful preaching molded you into the unique artist known as Ricky Dillard.

RD:  I can remember as a young man, coming up in church in the youth department, some Sunday mornings, pastor would ask the choir to sing and the choir would sing until the glory of the Lord would fill the room and change the atmosphere and create such an anointing in church, so much so that the pastor would be unable to minister because the glory of the Lord was so present.

This reminds me of a scripture which talks about the temple Solomon built, where they would sing and praise God.  And as they would sing and praise God, the scripture talks about a cloud of glory which filled the temple; and because of that cloud the priests were unable to minister.  I wanted to capture that experience in Unplugged.  It’s not that I wouldn’t want anyone to hear the word of the Lord.  I just would like to see the children of God ushered into the presence of the Lord.  There’s not much more you can achieve in worship once the glory of the Lord is present.  It’s with this in mind that I do the kind of Gospel music that I do.  I only want to do the kind of Gospel music that gets to the heart of man and brings changes to a man’s life or causes him to be better or edified.

CH: You were once again featured in another full length motion picture, as a director, in Fighting Temptations.  What was that experience like and how did it differ from your experience on the set of Leap Of Faith?

RD: At the time, I was working with a Baptist church in Atlanta and Paramount Motion Pictures sent some scouts to this church to see some other people who were also going to be connected to the movie.  I happened to be there.  Some of their representatives remembered me from my part on Leap Of Faith.  So, there was a relationship already there.  It was an awesome experience to meet some outstanding people like Cuba Gooding, Jr., Beyonce Knowles, LaTanya Richardson and Michael Epps.  It was an awesome experience to rub elbows with these people, not only in front of the camera but behind it, as well.  The experience in acting and sound track recording…I was involved in the Fighting Temptations sound track recording…was amazing.

CH: Unplugged – the CD - marks your sixth and, quite honestly, most impressive CD release to date.  You’ve been performing and recording Gospel music for nearly sixteen years.  That’s quite an achievement.  Give me a sense of how you’ve grown as an artist over the years and what are some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned along the way.

RD: In the sixteen years I’ve been in the industry, I’ve learned you can’t be anyone except yourself.  When I first launched New Generation with the flamboyant movement and the type of vocal arrangement we presented, I knew then I couldn’t be anyone else because the industry already had Rev. James Cleveland in Southern California, we already had Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singers.  Now, it was time to introduce something original, creative and attractive…something that people would want to invest in, whether it was the purchasing of your CD or the purchase of a ticket to your ‘live’ performance.  These were some of the things I tried to originally instill in our early organization.  Experience has also taught me to focus on ministry because it can be easy to get caught up with the accolades people shower on you.  If you’re not careful, we can take the glory away from our Lord.  The experiences I’ve learned have taught me to remain based and abound in ministry to ensure that God gets all the glory.