Good luck trying to stay seated while watching this rousing, upbeat performance of “Hold On” by Ricky Dillard and New G! It will have your heart pumping and your soul jumping with excitement for Jesus!
Born in 1985 in Chicago, Illinois, Ricky Rydell Dillard began leading the junior choir at St. Bethel Baptist Church at the ripe old age of 5. Ricky’s mother struggled as a single mom on four, but her faith was strong. Ricky grew up going to church and hearing gospel music, and those early years made a lasting impression.
Graduating from high school in 1984, Ricky began making music professionally soon after. Initially, he played and performed dance and hip-hop music, but he soon returned to his gospel roots. Ricky said, “I don't criticize because I believe all music was created to praise God and all we're doing is taking back what the Devil stole from us and using it to please God.”
In this video, Ricky and his group are most definitely praising and pleasing God. The performance is pleasing to all of us watching, too. Can you imagine worshiping with Ricky and New G in person on September 9, 2023 at Liberty Township in Ohio when this performance was recorded? What a thrill that would have been!
On November 3, 2023, “Hold On” was released as a single, the first from Ricky’s 13th album, entitled Choirmaster II; the album will be released on January 26, 2024.
Ricky Dillard (a.k.a. Dr. Dillard) is surely a master as he effortlessly and energetically directs the throngs of singers and instrumentalists on the stage. While he’s dressed in a white choir robe, the other musicians are clad in dark blue robes and wear cross pins or necklaces. The ladies don blue organza veils. Their uniformity conveys a sense of regality and respect, but there is nothing stuffy about the way in which they worship!
The group’s dance moves, claps, and gestures are largely synchronized. Their smiles are radiant, their voices are powerful, and their enthusiasm is contagious! Ricky is highly entertaining—pointing, jumping, and leading his choir in a stirring song about hanging on, holding on, and enduring until God brings us through the hard stuff of life.
“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heaven!” Psalms 150:1