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. 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. It charted on the
Billboard Gospel Albums chart at No. 15, 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. It charted on the Gospel Albums chart at No. 3. and it charted at No. 10 on the Gospel Album chart. and again this would chart on the Top Gospel Albums at No. 8. and this charted on two
Billboard chart the Gospel Albums at No. 10 and
Christian Albums at No. 32. which this charted on the Gospel Albums at No. 9, and this time around charted on the
Independent Albums at No. 49. and this charted at No. 7 on the Gospel Albums chart. which this charted on the Gospel Albums at No. 3, Independent Albums at No. 9, and on
The Billboard 200 at No. 58. 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. On September 28, 2019, he recorded his 11th album, Choirmaster. Choirmaster was released on May 1, 2020. Choirmaster was nominated for two awards at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. Dillard also won Traditional Choir of The Year at the 36th Annual
Stellar Awards. On July 9, 2021, Dillard recorded his second album with Motown Gospel, 13th of all albums, and 12th gospel album. On September 9, Dillard released his first single from the upcoming album "All of My Help". The song played at the top of every hour on all
iHeartRadio gospel stations. On September 17, Dillard released the single on all music streaming platforms. A second single was released, entitled "Behold Christ the Lord", on October 29, 2021, on every music streaming platform. Since then he has released three more singles, "Breakthrough", "He Won't Fail" and "Making Room" on December 2, December 9, and January 6, respectively. On January 21, 2022, Dillard released his "Breakthrough: The Exodus" album. He later appeared on
The Kelly Clarkson Show singing "All of My Help" on February 22. He was nominated for several Dove Awards and won for "Traditional Gospel Album of the Year". On September 9th, 2023, Dr. Dillard and New G, his choir, recorded their 13th album in Liberty Township, Ohio, just outside of Cincinnati. Dr. Dillard was honored with Congressional Recognition for 35 years of gospel music excellence by The Honorable Sheila Jackson-Lee. On November 3rd, he released the single from the recording titled "Hold On". A month later on December 1, he released a second single titled "When I Think". The full album titled "Choirmaster II" will be released on January 26, 2024. Ricky Dillard, in partnership with
Ron Carter, recorded "Sweet, Sweet Spirit" at Fellowship Chicago Church in November 2025, and was consequently released in February 2026. The record blended Hymns and Traditional Gospel, with Jazz and R&B. ==Discography==