Fire Destroys Home of Gospel Singer Ricky Dillard

by Sheilah Belle of The Belle Report (www.thebellereport.net):

Fire early Tuesday, January 16, 2007 destroyed a home belonging to gospel singer Ricky Dillard, who was out of town.

The six-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot house was “completely burned to the ground, from my understanding,” said Dillard’s manager, William Bogle. “It was certainly unfortunate but, more importantly, I’m glad he wasn’t in it.”

Firefighters were called to the home around 3 a.m. and found the house already fully engulfed, said DeKalb County Fire Department Capt. Eric Jackson. No one was in the home and there were no injuries, he said. Bogle said Dillard was in New York on Tuesday.

He said he had spoken with Dillard by phone and described Dillard as “distraught” about the fire. Bogle said Dillard hadn’t planned to return to Atlanta until February, but would likely come back because of the fire. “I’m assuming he will make a trip there,” Bogle said.

Dillard, originally from Chicago, bought the six-bedroom, 5,000-square foot house about three years ago, his manager said.

Bogle said Dillard’s awards and film footage of his choir’s performances were in the Atlanta house. “Nineteen years of his choir history has been destroyed,” Bogle said.

Some of Dillard’s best-known songs include “More Abundantly” and “The Holy Place.”

Bogle said the Grammy-nominated gospel singer was in New York on Tuesday and was distraught over the fire. He said Dillard hadn’t planned to return to Atlanta until February, but would likely come back sooner because of the fire.

Dillard recently recorded live in Toronto, Canada on Saturday, January 20th at the Rhema Christian Ministries of Ontario Inc. The artist, who is best known for his unparalleled excitement and showmanship, had made plans to bring his level of excellence to the North for this highly anticipated concert event.

Attached is a picture from video of the fire, shown on WSB-TV, Atlanta, GA.

Let’s keep our brother in prayer.